1
: torn into shreds : ragged
a tattered flag
2
a
: broken down : dilapidated
… decaying houses along tattered paved streets.—
P. B. Martin
P. B. Martin
b
: being in a shattered condition
led their tattered party to victory
3
: wearing ragged clothes
a tattered barefoot boy
Examples of tattered in a Sentence
a pile of old tattered books
arrived at the shelter tattered and exhausted
Recent Examples on the Web
Repairing the agency’s tattered credibility The CDC has long been the world’s pre-eminent public health agency.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026
But there’s a certain magic in the tattered, the torn, and the un-trashable gear in our closets.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
My tattered copy of the book has Ann’s acknowledgements at the front.
—Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
Our boot laces were broken and knotted, our tattered and ice-caked pants flapped around our legs, and at night our wet clothing froze stiff.
—Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tattered
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Helen Branswell, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026
But there’s a certain magic in the tattered, the torn, and the un-trashable gear in our closets.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
My tattered copy of the book has Ann’s acknowledgements at the front.
—Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
Our boot laces were broken and knotted, our tattered and ice-caked pants flapped around our legs, and at night our wet clothing froze stiff.
—Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tattered
Cite this Entry
“Tattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tattered. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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