as in tears
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
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tatters
Verb
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As the GIs raise their guns, a pudgy hand in the backseat tears a strip of white cloth from his companion’s petticoat for the chauffeur to hang out the window.—
Alice Kaplan,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026 -
If the oyster tears slightly, don’t panic; flavor matters much more than perfection.—
Rai Mincey,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The proteinmaxxers leapt on the buffet, heaping spoonfuls of hummus and shreds of rotisserie chicken onto paper plates.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
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Microplastics are tiny and sometimes invisible shreds of plastic that can be produced by the breakdown of plastic, the shedding of clothing fibers, manufacturing processes, and more.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That collaboration continued on the sketch series SCTV and in the mockumentaries of Christopher Guest, and culminated with her Emmy-winning portrayal of riches-to-rags matriarch Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
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Another common mistake is using paper towels or regular rags, which can leave lint behind.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Of course, Wallace already rips the ball away from dribblers more than anyone else.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Continue reading … ROBES RIVALRY — Liberal justice Elena Kagan rips colleague Jackson's dissent in rare public break.—
,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The discovery of the ship fragments — and the research that followed — was two years in the making.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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The episode follows a pivotal school trip that triggers Daisy’s memories of Toronto, revealing fragments of her past and a world fractured by violence.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Throw the pieces into a zip-top bag along with lemon (juice and slices), olive oil, a minced shallot, some Parmesan, and salt and pepper.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Apr. 2026
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Those pieces of software, among other things, power operating systems and transfer data for things connected to the internet.—
Huo Jingnan,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Joshua Jackson celebrates the Banana Republic and The Explorers Club partnership at the clothing brand's flagship store in New York City on April 16.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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Carry a windshield scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, flashlight, cell phone, blanket and additional warm clothing, drinking water, and high-calorie non-perishable food.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Every other California gubernatorial candidate is left to fight over the scraps, while voters and some political operatives have a dim view of the remaining field.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 Apr. 2026
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Think of it like a blender—feed scraps in slowly to avoid overwhelming the system.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
12 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Tatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatters. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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