in tatters
idiom
: clothes that are old and badly torn
They were dressed in tatters.
—often used figurativelyAfter the war, the economy was in tatters.
Her hopes lay in tatters.
Examples of in tatters in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its proxies are fractured, and its credibility as a regional powerbroker is in tatters.
—
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Iran’s economy has been in tatters for years because of sanctions imposed by the West.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
The scope of destruction has become clearer as people slowly have regained access to neighborhoods, often only to find their homes in tatters or washed away completely.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
The full force of Hurricane Helene has been unleashed on Western North Carolina and Florida’s Gulf Coast, with large portions of the Southeast left ravaged and homes in tatters.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
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Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Iran’s economy has been in tatters for years because of sanctions imposed by the West.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
The scope of destruction has become clearer as people slowly have regained access to neighborhoods, often only to find their homes in tatters or washed away completely.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
The full force of Hurricane Helene has been unleashed on Western North Carolina and Florida’s Gulf Coast, with large portions of the Southeast left ravaged and homes in tatters.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in tatters
Dictionary Entries Near in tatters
Cite this Entry
“In tatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20tatters. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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