tatter 1 of 2

verb

ˈta-tər How to pronounce tatter (audio)
Definition of tatternext
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

Relevance

tatter

2 of 2

noun

as in shred

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of 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 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
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
  1. tear
  2. shred
  3. rip
  4. fragment
  5. remnant
  6. fraction
  7. scrap
  8. piece
Verb
  • 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.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of tear
Noun
  • Their main flaw is that the protagonists rarely display a shred of agency or activity.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
Definition of shred
Verb
  • 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.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Christina Zhang, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of rip
Noun
  • Seventy of the dogs were X-rayed on site, and many showed evidence of bullet fragments.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Multiple fractures with missing fragments, fetlock open and disarticulated, severe soft-tissue damage.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of fragment
Noun
  • Although astronomers are pretty sure there is a neutron star in the heart of the remnant based on indirect evidence, no pulsar radio emissions have yet been detected.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2026
  • But beyond these genetic remnants, the exact nature of any interactions between our species and Neanderthals is much more of a mystery.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 6 July 2026
Definition of remnant
Noun
  • Roughly 100 children have been treated elsewhere in the hospital since last week, a fraction of those injured in the earthquakes.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 June 2026
Definition of fraction
Noun
  • On Saturday in Philadelphia, Gustavo Alfaro’s team turned up against France looking for a scrap.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • In his second scrap under the UFC banner, Adriano Martins knocked out Makhachev in the first round.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of scrap
Noun
  • Refine a portfolio piece, build a small prototype, or share a draft with someone who gives honest notes.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
  • Gomez's wedding guest dress also bore a striking resemblance to her 2025 Oscars dress, a custom off-the-shoulder piece by Ralph Lauren.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Definition of piece

Browse Nearby Words

tasty
tatter
tatterdemalion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tatter. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tatter

Nglish: Translation of tatter for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All