I see a tattered flag which continues to flutter in the wind.
Source: tatoeba (319691)
Tattered
/ˈtætəd/
Synonyms for "tattered" (117 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (24)
beat upbeat-upbedraggledblowzybroken downbroken-downcarelesschintzycleftclovencrackedcutdilapidateddingydisreputabledowdydown at the heeldown-at-heeldown-at-the-heels
Noun(1 words)
Adjective(4 words)
Strong matches (35)
Related words (58)
Adjective(22 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: beat up, beat-up, bedraggled, bedraggling, blowzy.
- Sentence evidence is available for tattered, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "tattered".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "tattered"
Keep "tattered" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "tattered" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "tattered", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "tattered" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesappearanceconditiondamagedamage statedegradationmaterial damagestatestate of affairsstate of disrepairwear
More specific
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
Collocations
11 entriestatter aparttatter the clothtatter the edgestatter the sailstatter to bitstattered appearancetattered clothestattered edgestattered flagtattered remnantstattered state
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
9 total sentences available.
The stylists, in all their pompous, branded majesty, doubted that the girl who had just approached them was fixable: her clothes were greasy, tattered, and devoid of rhinestones and logos.
Source: tatoeba (873924)
Mary thought to herself that she ought to buy a new cover for the ironing board since the old one was getting pretty tattered.
Source: tatoeba (3020384)
The tattered covers of Mary's copy of The Flowers of Evil showed that the book had been read and reread several times.
Source: tatoeba (3500736)
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "tattered"?
Closest matches include beat up, beat-up, bedraggled, bedraggling, blowzy.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "tattered"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.