in tatters

phrase

: clothes that are old and badly torn
They were dressed in tatters.
—often used figuratively
After the war, the economy was in tatters.
Her hopes lay in tatters.

Examples of in tatters in a Sentence

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With her social life in tatters and a world of her anxieties realized, Tae-ju rashly skips town, heading for the tranquil coastal guesthouse of another friend. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Then, after one season without Brees, Payton stepped away from the Saints in January 2022 and left the New Orleans roster in tatters. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Filming has now begun on location in Malta, with Winstone starring as Alan ‘Razor’ Sharp, a former SAS operative haunted by a botched mission in the 1990s that left his reputation in tatters and his best friend dead. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026 Most obviously, if IBM is so innovative, why have its own blockchain efforts proven a bust, and why is its broader business strategy in tatters? — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for in tatters

Rhymes for in tatters

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Browse Nearby Words

intarsist
in tatters
intcl
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Cite this Entry

“In tatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20tatters. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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