as in to tear
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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as in shred
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tatter
Nathan Taylor Pemberton,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2020
So where did Ransom’s tattered cozy knit end up after filming wrapped?
—
Ale Russian,
PEOPLE.com,
26 Dec. 2019
Kevin Barry,
Harper's Magazine,
2 July 2024
Smith’s office is now consigned to assess the tatters in which the court’s ruling has left its prosecution and determine, like a homeowner after a tornado has touched down, what can be salvaged.
—
Ruth Marcus,
Washington Post,
1 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tatter
Verb
Coming down that highway, one’s arrival was confirmed by a row of flag poles holding international flags, tattered and generally ignored.
—
Nathan Taylor Pemberton,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2020
So where did Ransom’s tattered cozy knit end up after filming wrapped?
—
Ale Russian,
PEOPLE.com,
26 Dec. 2019
Noun
Rourke himself approached the street at this hour in suave array and manic tatters.
—
Kevin Barry,
Harper's Magazine,
2 July 2024
Smith’s office is now consigned to assess the tatters in which the court’s ruling has left its prosecution and determine, like a homeowner after a tornado has touched down, what can be salvaged.
—
Ruth Marcus,
Washington Post,
1 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tatter
Verb
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Shakespeare’s haughty Roman war hero, revered on the battlefield yet reviled by hungry plebeians, becomes the flash point in a young democracy tearing itself apart over power and sacrifice.
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That tactic may situate this work within a lineage that includes Jacques Villeglé and Mimmo Rotella, artists who used swiped, torn ads during the postwar era.
Noun
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Their main flaw is that the protagonists rarely display a shred of agency or activity.
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The rest of the band followed his lead, particularly Green, a relentless head-banger, dropping to her knees to become one with the feedback and leaning back into beatific shred-faces.
Verb
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On June 29, workers were seen installing a red carpet on the venue's signature stairs, only to rip it up a short time later.
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Four people died, including a 12-year-old boy, and several others were injured after at least three tornadoes ripped through that corner of the state.
Noun
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Seventy of the dogs were X-rayed on site, and many showed evidence of bullet fragments.
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Multiple fractures with missing fragments, fetlock open and disarticulated, severe soft-tissue damage.
Noun
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In addition to remnants of textile production, the Søften dig turned up silver scraps, coins and pearls that testify to trade and economic activity in the region.
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In what is now the desert Southwest, Velarde was born among the remnants of the Spanish empire and lived under the flags of Mexico and Texas; briefly, the Confederacy, though his family opposed it; and finally, under the stars and stripes of the United States of America.
Noun
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Roughly 100 children have been treated elsewhere in the hospital since last week, a fraction of those injured in the earthquakes.
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The $8 million in fees represents only a fraction of the legal costs incurred by Lively during the course of 18 months of litigation against Baldoni.
Noun
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In the unlikely scenario that your dry cleaner refuses returns, metal or wire hangers can be recycled at most scrap metal facilities.
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Bearden showed people a how to see African American life through paper scraps.
Noun
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Refine a portfolio piece, build a small prototype, or share a draft with someone who gives honest notes.
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Gomez's wedding guest dress also bore a striking resemblance to her 2025 Oscars dress, a custom off-the-shoulder piece by Ralph Lauren.
Cite this Entry
“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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