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
Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 15 July 2024
San Francisco is in a struggle to redefine itself after the pandemic left it in economic tatters and highlighted its longstanding problems with homelessness, drugs and property crime.
—Janie Har, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2024
Hanna Flanagan, PEOPLE.com, 3 Dec. 2019
This store, along with other Starbucks locations throughout the city, would fall prey to similar assaults during the day, leaving dozens of storefronts defaced and tattered.
—Grady McGregor, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tatter
Verb
Their pitching staff then turned to tatters, heightening the importance of an offense that must mask it.
Including Tucker, seven of Houston’s qualified hitters finished the first half with an OPS+ of 100 or higher.
—Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 15 July 2024
San Francisco is in a struggle to redefine itself after the pandemic left it in economic tatters and highlighted its longstanding problems with homelessness, drugs and property crime.
—Janie Har, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2024
Noun
So where did Ransome’s tattered cozy knit end up after filming wrapped?
—Hanna Flanagan, PEOPLE.com, 3 Dec. 2019
This store, along with other Starbucks locations throughout the city, would fall prey to similar assaults during the day, leaving dozens of storefronts defaced and tattered.
—Grady McGregor, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tatter
Verb
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Curt Stanley was directing airplanes and helicopters as the North Rim's Grand Canyon Lodge was engulfed in flames and destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire that tore through the national park on the night of July 12.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
15 July 2025
-
DeGrom made just six starts before tearing an elbow ligament and requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery.—
John Perrotto,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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To prevent the shreds from clumping, anti-caking agents like cellulose (a plant fiber made from wood pulp) and potato starch are often added, which can steal moisture from the cheese, affecting its texture.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 July 2025
-
Northwestern’s leadership chooses not to afford the members of its community a shred of respect.—
Luis A. Nunes Amaral,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
On July 21, Colbert ripped Paramount and Trump in his opening monologue.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
-
Some of the names on the list are already ripping higher Thursday.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Sowing the seeds of the solar system Meteorites are fragments of asteroids that formed 4.6 billion years ago at the same time that the planets of our solar system were taking shape.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
16 July 2025
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The company said the debris was nontoxic fiberglass fragments and the pieces were one square foot or smaller.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
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For context, massive flooding in New York City was caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021).—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
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Some parts of the state saw more than 20 inches of rain, with the National Weather Service (NWS) attributing the excessive moisture to remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, which formed the weekend prior.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Without that aid this year, Avalon resorted to scraping 39,000 cubic yards from other areas of its own beach at its own expense — a small fraction of what is typically needed.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
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That is still just 3% of the total population, a much smaller fraction than in the United States and Europe, but comes amid a tourism boom that has made foreigners far more visible across the country.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Even from the outside, the bathroom door was fully covered in scrap wood, with a moon cut out to resemble an outhouse door.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
20 July 2025
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The original paint on the pine hardwood is intact if chipped, and several rails are missing—likely sacrificed to wartime scrap drives during filming.—
India Brown,
Robb Report,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Mazzoli created a lush score that was alternately sweeping or intimate, sensuous or mystical, yet with a distinctive sound that was her own weaving a thread through the piece.—
Janelle Gelfand,
Cincinnati.com,
19 July 2017
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This is why the war stories of Tom Clancy are such convincing and moving pieces of fiction.—
Janine Barchas,
Washington Post,
18 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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