SHRED Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

shred 1 of 2

noun

ˈshred

Definition of shred

as in glimmer

a very small amount the vandals showed not a shred of decency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shred

2 of 2

verb

as in to rip

to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it shredded some cooked chicken for the soup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shred

Noun

The food is stellar, as is the service, but there isn’t a shred of pretence about any of it. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 The pork chop came with an unfamiliar vegetable, shreds of a green stalk. — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026

Verb

And 50 or 60 trees would be shredded up in the woodlot, always in the same general area. — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026 For example, leaves detached from a mother plant, especially if threatened, torn up, or shredded, display high levels of anxiety. — Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shred

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shred

Noun

The polls offer a glimmer of hope for Democrats and their voters, who hope that the party can shrink the Republican majority in Congress – or capture it – this midterm season.

— Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
While more muted in color than her later looks, the outfit shows an early glimmer of her future full-on sparkle.

— Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of glimmer

Verb

Drops railway temperatures To prevent high-speed aerodynamic forces from ripping the heat shields off, researchers secured the magnetic strips with dual mechanical fasteners.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Videos captured flames ripping through the Chez Gado-Gado restaurant in the Seminyak resort area during the incident Sunday, which left an Australian teenager hospitalized with burns, according to 7News.

— Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of rip

Noun

The cuisine was also noteworthy, a generous choice of cocktails, wines, and cuisine with hints of contemporary English inspiration, while avoiding being British stodgy.

— Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Warsh is unlikely to reveal his approach before the task forces report but at Jackson Hole the whole world will be looking for hints regarding his plans to reshape the Fed.

— Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hint

Verb

Veteran Jamal Adams tore his quad in the team’s first preseason game, and undrafted rookie Jacob Thomas sprained his ankle in the final preseason game.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Either way, Watson heads into the new campaign – his first regular-season play since tearing his Achilles in 2024 – with an immense amount of pressure.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of tear

Noun

Her clothes are simple but bright, with sometimes a bit of shiny thread or a sprinkling of sequins; décolletage is a thing of the future.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
This one promised not only travel-show vibes but, perhaps, a sprinkling of reality TV, another guilty pleasure of mine.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of sprinkling

Noun

This was far from Towns’ first public splash in the sports card space.

— Larry Holder, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
The splash screen that appears when loading up Orbitals, showing Shapefarm and publisher Kepler Interactive’s logos, is soaked in retro-futuristic bright neon like Apple’s back in the 80s.

— George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of splash

Noun

The trouble was a bacterial abscess on the child’s neck, swollen, red, warm to the touch, about the size of a ping-pong ball, large enough to force the head into a tilt.

— Eric Boodman, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
Chic details like a closet carefully laid out with beach needs like La Roqqa tote bags and sandals and luxury Ortigia bath products are thoughtful touches.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of touch

Browse Nearby Words

shrank

shred

shredded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shred. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of shred

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes