tattered 1 of 2

Definition of tatterednext

tattered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of tatter
as in ripped
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it the little boy tattered that blanket beyond repair by repeatedly yanking on it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tattered
Adjective
Untrained soldiers were shoeless and wore tattered clothes. Amanda Rosa updated April 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026 Sadly there’s little wind beneath this uninspired musical’s thin and tattered wings. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026 In the foreground of the painting was a car encampment with a tattered floral sheet woven through the windows, cloth tarps and couch cushions creating a shield against the elements. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 Many wore tattered flip-flops or shoes that offered little protection. CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tattered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tattered
Adjective
  • Kristen Stewart has sported every short hairstyle worth mentioning, but this impossibly ragged, exaggerated mullet feels like the correct choice for a grunge girl summer.
    Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 27 May 2026
  • Reflecting on these piercing paradoxes, Dusabejambo’s narrative (co-written with Delphine Agut) cannot but be shaped by them; there are no simple resolutions for a reality defined by ruptures and ragged edges.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 May 2026
Adjective
  • That look-to-local approach can be seen here too, in the faded Turkish rugs on the floors and splashes of modern Turkish design—in particular, bright ikat cushions and throws—in the otherwise simple bedrooms.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Prune Lightly to Maintain Shape Once the flowers become unattractive, clean up the plant's overall shape by selectively pruning branches and the faded blooms.
    Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • The fire ripped through Hawthorne Village on May 11, forcing families to stay in hotels, motels and with other relatives.
    Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 4 June 2026
  • On the first pitch of his assignment, Lewis ripped a 91 mph cutter from Omaha’s Mitch Spence for a home run.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • The backstory The 1 Hotel has taken over what was formerly the Hotel Vitale, which always had fabulous bones (lots of windows, spacious guest rooms) but had been feeling a little frayed for the last few years of its existence.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • From then on, relationships became frayed and strained.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Beckham joined after wideout Gunner Olszewski tore his right Achilles tendon in an offseason workout practice last week.
    CBS News, CBS News, 1 June 2026
  • This Together pulled back the curtain on the devastating fire that unexpectedly tore through the Heirloom hotel last summer.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Taking a playful cooking trip through the alphabet with an A-to-Z guide to chili-making ingredients and techniques — from aromatics and avocado oil to the Mexican xoconostle prickly pear and zesty toppings like fresh cilantro, pickled jalapenos, and shredded Pepper Jack cheese.
    Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
  • Under the supervision of Professor Michael Hummel, the outer layer of the wood was removed to expose its core, which was then shredded and processed into dissolvable pulp.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 28 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tattered. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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