adj
tattered
TA-tuhd
adj
1
Torn into rags or shreds; ragged from wear or damage.
"The old flag hung tattered and faded from the pole."
"He arrived in a tattered coat that had seen better days."
2
Worn-down or falling apart; in poor, patchy condition more generally.
"The company's reputation was left tattered after the scandal."
How to Use Tattered
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTorn and ragged — used for worn cloth or, figuratively, for something damaged and in poor shape.
Common pairings
tattered clothes
tattered flag
left tattered
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Etymology
From Middle English tatered, related to Old Norse tǫturr ("rag"); later reanalysed as the past participle of the verb "to tatter."