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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Drink, drugs and sometimes tears.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026 -
Inheritance often tears families apart and much of that conflict is rooted in poor communication.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Tradwives are delivering the last shreds of domestic privacy, intimacy, and pleasure directly into the hands of late-stage capitalism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
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As this sequence plays out, the social fabric further shreds and unravels; trust circles shrink and become ever more homogeneous; and hostility, mean spiritedness, and a general hardening take hold in society.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Noun
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Like many rags-to-riches stories, the quintet’s rise to fame seemed fated.—
India Roby,
Architectural Digest,
4 May 2026
-
Released in 2006, the first The Devil Wears Prada was a rags-to-riches story of a young woman (Hathaway) who headed for the big city to be a serious journalist, only to become the assistant of a ruthless and legendary editor (Streep).—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … NATION ON EDGE — Stephen A Smith rips 'lip service' on civility after being at WHCA Dinner shooting.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Anderson’s feat is overshadowed by Shaquille O’Neal, who rips down the backboard in the first quarter, delaying the game 45 minutes.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The artist wore a floor-length gown constructed from real electrical cables and wiring, interwoven with moss, succulents, and circuit board fragments, with butterfly motifs scattered throughout.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
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Thousands of cases of a popular Aldi dessert have been recalled because they may be contaminated with glass fragments.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Take care not to overmix; keeping some larger pieces of tuna in the mix ensures a more satisfying texture, rather than something closer to tuna salad (delicious, just not the goal here).—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 May 2026
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These tiny pots can be found on plants, rocks, pieces of wood and other places.—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Noun
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People who attend the event are encouraged to dress up in clothing from their favorite decade.—
Myrna Petlicki,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
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The exhibit explored the stories of Black style told through clothing by the African diaspora beginning in the 18th century.—
Luis Giraldo,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Between food scraps and foodborne illness-causing bacteria on the dishes, the sink can quickly become a breeding ground for germs.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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Trump scraps Scotch whisky tariffs 'in honor' of King Charles.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Tatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatters. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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