shredded; shredding; shreds
1
transitive
: to cut or tear (something) into shreds
shredded the documents
2
transitive
: demolish sense 2
… sharp lawyers shredding hapless witnesses on live television …—
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer3
intransitive
: to come apart in or break into shreds
The cloth had shredded.
4
a
intransitive
: to ski or engage in a board sport (such as snowboarding, skateboarding, or surfing) with exceptional skill
At its regular meeting Monday, the Cullman City Council signed off on constructing a place where skateboarders can … shred … and ollie to their hearts' content.—Benjamin Bullard
Benjamin Bullard
b
transitive
: to shred on (a surface)
For fans of snow sports, Beach Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain Resort and Appalachian Ski Mountain offer sweet powdery slopes to shred.—Luke Weir
Luke WeirAt one point, Paul was thought by many to be the best surfer on the planet, a guy who had the rare ability to totally shred waves with radical moves and yet do it very gracefully and with a beautiful flowing style.—Corky Carroll
Corky Carroll5
transitive + intransitive
: to play an electric guitar with great skill and speed
She shreds on guitar and has the voice of an angel.—Rachel Stone
Rachel Stone… this child musician has to be able to shred the guitar at an adult, professional level.—Kerry Clawson
Kerry Clawson6
shredder
noun
Synonyms
Examples of shred in a Sentence
Noun
The wallpaper is in shreds.
His reputation was in shreds after the arrest.
He struggled to retain a shred of his dignity.
Verb
Shred the cabbage and add it to the salad.
shredded some cooked chicken for the soup
Recent Examples on the Web
Alexandra Banner, CNN, 1 Oct. 2024
The story picks up in a military bunker in the Everglades, where the last shreds of humanity have gathered in search of safety.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024
At least five tornadoes, combined with intense flooding from heavy rainfall, ripped through parts of Oklahoma late Saturday into Sunday –– destroying homes and other structures.
Video of the damage from CNN affiliate KOCO shows cars overturned and whole houses shredded.
—Robert Shackelford, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shred 
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.
Noun
Hundreds of people have been reported missing, perhaps unable to leave their location or unable to contact family where communications infrastructure is in shreds.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 1 Oct. 2024
The story picks up in a military bunker in the Everglades, where the last shreds of humanity have gathered in search of safety.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
Click here for more cartoons… MEDIA 'RIDICULOUS’ – Jillian Michaels shreds Dems for turning on their own to defend trans athletes.
—Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024
At least five tornadoes, combined with intense flooding from heavy rainfall, ripped through parts of Oklahoma late Saturday into Sunday –– destroying homes and other structures.
Video of the damage from CNN affiliate KOCO shows cars overturned and whole houses shredded.
—Robert Shackelford, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shred
Dictionary Entries Near shred
Cite this Entry
“Shred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shred. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shred
2 of 2 verb
shredded; shredding
: to cut or tear into shreds
shred paper
shred cabbage
shredder
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share