1
as in ragged
wearing torn or worn-out clothes
arrived at the shelter tattered and exhausted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faded
worn or torn into or as if into rags
a hobo in tattered old clothes and worn-out shoes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ripped
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tattered
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
By the end of the summer my catalogs were tattered and worn.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025
The archangel of trendy-casual walkaroundfits (new word, please spread around) just stepped out in hip-hugging bootcut jeans, a loose and intentionally tattered white T-shirt, a gold pendant necklace, and dark sunglasses, an easy all-American look for a morning on the go.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2025
Wallen then stumbles to his feet in the middle of the road, as rain pours down, with close-up images showing Wallen in tattered clothes and covered in scrapes and cuts.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tattered
Adjective
This could be a tattered sofa, a wobbly table, or a too-small area rug.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for tattered
Adjective
-
Her breath was becoming more ragged.—
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The five pieces offer, in turn, biomorphic hints of de Kooning, the ragged shapes of Clyfford Still, the bold geometries of Ellsworth Kelly, the paint smears of Gerhard Richter, and something that looks like toothpaste squeezed onto an orange peel.—
Adjective
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Characterized by their faded or worn-out effect, as if their original color had been lightened by washing, these beloved jeans stand out for their vintage and carefree air.—
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The styling trick works even with an outfit that leans as grunge as this, with ballooning black cargo pants, a muted flannel, and a faded black tee.—
Verb
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One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.—
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This gripping page-turner — featuring a decades-old murder, a writer in town to tell the real story and an oncoming tempest — feels like it was ripped from the juiciest headlines.—
Adjective
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Old wiring, loose sockets, and frayed cords can be a safety hazard.—
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And finally, follow the American Dental Association’s guidelines1 of when to replace toothbrushes, which is every three to four months for adults (or, if the bristles become frayed), and more often for children.—
Verb
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Multiple tornadoes already tore through several states this week.—
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But Parsons tore his ACL in Week 15, and the Packers lost four in a row after that ghastly break.—
Verb
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The next week, the Broncos trailed 28-7 to Justin Fields and the Bears, who shredded Denver’s defense, too, before a massive second-half comeback.—
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Cyrus's latest music video look is literally shredded into pieces.—
Cite this Entry
“Tattered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tattered. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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