Definitions

tattered

[tat-erd] / ˈtæt ərd /

ADJECTIVE

shredded

Synonyms

STRONGEST

battered dilapidated frayed ripped shabby threadbare torn

WEAK

badly dressed badly worn broken frazzled full of holes in rags in shreds in tatters moth-eaten poorly made rugged scraggy seedy shaggy shoddy torn to pieces unkempt

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A mix of government pensions, food handouts and subsidized housing provides an ever-more tattered safety net.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

Vendors there were hawking shoes, used power tools and watches under tattered blue tarps.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

Nabila Shenar, one of Saadani's customers, explained how tattered banknotes make life difficult.

From Barron's • Nov. 29, 2025

And it means that every existing banknote matters more than ever - no matter how tattered.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025

Harriet rummaged in her pockets until she found a tattered paper.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Vocabulary lists containing tattered

The Diary of Anne Frank

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Chains

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The Circuit

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