tattered

[ tat-erd ]

/ ˈtæt ərd /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for tattered on Thesaurus.com

adjective

torn to tatters; ragged: a tattered flag.

wearing ragged clothing: a tattered old man.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of tattered

1300–50; Middle English; see tatter¹ (noun), -ed³

OTHER WORDS FROM tattered

un·tat·tered, adjective

Words nearby tattered

tatpurusha, Tatra Mountains, TATT, tatter, tatterdemalion, tattered, tattersall, Tattersall's, tattie, tattie-bogle, tattie-peelin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tattered in a sentence

Meanwhile, Russia is targeting Ukrainian fuel storages, grain silos, and agricultural equipment warehouses, damaging already tattered supply chains.
Ukraine Is in Worse Shape than You Think|Suriya Jayanti|May 14, 2022|Time
Sometimes featuring a fist raised in defiance or a tattered flag, they enjoined the American public to “Avenge Pearl Harbor” by making bullets or ships, buying war bonds, or joining the navy or coast guard “NOW.”
America Learned the Wrong Lessons From Pearl Harbor—And the World Is Still Living With the Consequences|Elizabeth D. Samet|December 6, 2021|Time
Now he must uncover the mystery of what happened to Nick the mailman’s brain and help the founders of the Psychonauts piece together their tattered friendships and minds.
‘Psychonauts 2’ is a Saturday morning cartoon with a side of mental health|Shannon Liao|August 26, 2021|Washington Post
He wears his characteristic white shalwar kameez with a tattered gray waistcoat.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They have the tattoos, the face paint, and the tattered clothes, and they hold the door for people and say “thank you.”
A Report From the Misunderstood Gathering of the Juggalos|Steve Miller|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sun and wind have caused me to become tattered and torn.
How I’ll End the War: The Trip Over to Afghanistan|Nick Willard|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The works are shown sequentially, opening with the original photo of Freud in all its tattered glory.
Jasper Johns: The Secrets of a Master at Work|Justin Jones|March 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead of playing the young anti-Christ, he now wears a tattered robe and helps deliver the baby, who is no longer real.
The House of Shock Is Terrifying Its Guests and Causing Controversy—and the Zombies Who Run the Show Are Loving It|Tyler Gillespie|October 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The tattered outcast dozes on his bench while the chariot of the wealthy is drawn by.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
The stranger, who had stood in the shade, now came forward to the fire, and Dorothy assisted her to remove her tattered cloak.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
The Mexican immediately pulled off his ragged slouch-hat and his tattered coat.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
His hands, slipped within the tattered blue sleeves, grasped tightly each the elbow of the other arm.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa
If he could but find the tattered blue kimono worn during that upward journey from Kiu Shiu!
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa

British Dictionary definitions for tattered

tattered

/ (ˈtætəd) /

adjective

ragged or worna tattered old book

wearing ragged or torn clothingtattered refugees

damaged, defeated, or in disarrayhe believes he can bring the tattered party together

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tattered

Origin of tattered

OTHER WORDS FROM tattered

Words nearby tattered

Words related to tattered

How to use tattered in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tattered