tatters 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of tatter
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

Relevance

tatters

2 of 2

noun

plural of tatter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tatters
Verb
  • Carter further complicates things in last week’s episode, when he drunkly tears an animal mount off the wall during Oreana’s grandmother’s big party at the 10-Petal Ranch.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026
  • As an example of how his platform would work, Wehmeyer pointed to processing insurance claims after a tornado tears through a house in Minnesota.
    Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • There's one day left of food in the fridge, a flood in the basement, a hole in the ceiling and a group of people who are clinging to the last shreds of hope for the future.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Trump’s appreciation for and emulation of the histrionics of that sport have been much discussed over the years—recall how the late Hulk Hogan ripped his shirt to shreds at the 2024 Republican National Convention to reveal a TRUMP VANCE T-shirt underneath.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Place Drying Towels and Rags in Separate Places Kitchen rags tend to be one item that gets tossed around in piles on counters.
    Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 27 June 2026
  • Released during World War II, the film capitalizes on Cohan's rags-to-riches story and his songs' ability to boost morale with their embodiment of the American spirit.
    Kevin P. Sullivan, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • During his tour, a solar flare causes an electromagnetic disturbance that rips through the systems of civilization and into the data center.
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Bell rips Bargatze for attending the UFC Freedom 250 fights at Donald Trump‘s White House earlier this month.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Different software versions, and even different storage media, can preserve different file fragments and automatic backups.
    Steven Melendez, Scientific American, 2 July 2026
  • One topic in Turner’s exploration involves microplastics, the microscopic fragments created as plastic materials break down in oceans, rivers, and wastewater systems.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • Surveillance cameras captured a person dressed in dark clothing on a nearby roof overlooking the courtyard less than ten minutes before the killing, prosecutors said in charging documents.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The same goes for discovering petite-friendly clothing brands with styles that not only fit, but also flatter shorter frames.
    Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • According to Jackson’s account, Fong said her father, the village headman, removed large pieces of wreckage from the crash site and organized the burial of McKinney’s body right there.
    Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • And cadets were on the hunt for unique pieces to add to their collections.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Signs of tachinid activity include lifeless caterpillars or thin, brown chrysalises, sometimes with silk threads indicating larval emergence.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
  • The threads that formed country music The American West generated its own mythologies.
    Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatters. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on tatters

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster