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Glite Dictionary
🧀 To cut into strips 🪶 A tiny amount 📄 A thin piece
to shred

to shred

112 2.6
To tear something into small thin pieces
  • verb
  • /ʃrɛd/
translation icon : triturar
  • White paper is collected, then shredded and bagged or recycled in the community.
  • shredded paper
  • shredded newspapers
  • shredded waste

I was using it got cocky and I shredded my thumb's so bad.

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Examples

  • His parents decided to hand off a bag full of shredded newspaper.

    A Lonely Place to Die (2011)

  • In the meantime, shred any documents associated with the shoot.

    Fly Me to the Moon (2024)

  • To reduce volume, the waste was shredded prior to being placed in the landfill.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The wagon was ruined, the canvas shredded, and the wooden box splintered and cracked.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Please shred the documents before throwing them away to protect personal information.

  • After cooking the chicken, make sure to shred it and add it to the tacos.

  • Before recycling, shred any papers that contain sensitive information.

Synonyms

to destroy
vsto shred
∞ 1.0

Damage something so badly that it cannot be used or fixed

overlaps in destruction but specifically denotes cutting into thin, narrow strips
to cut
vsto shred
∞ 1.0

To divide something using a sharp tool, often into pieces

is like cutting but usually aims for thin, narrow strips rather than general cuts
to tear
vsto shred
∞ 1.0

To pull something so it breaks into pieces

is like this but specifically produces thin, narrow strips
to rip
vsto shred
646 1.7

To tear quickly and forcefully

can be similar but usually means cutting into thin, narrow strips
to wreck
vsto shred
225 2.9

To badly damage or destroy something

shares destruction but usually does not imply careful cutting into thin strips
to slice
vsto shred
203 1.0

To cut something into thin flat pieces with a knife

differs by making flat pieces rather than long, narrow strips
to cut into
vsto shred
89 2.3

To make something into smaller pieces using a knife or tool

is similar but focuses on producing thin, narrow strips rather than pieces
to break up
vsto shred
66 2.7

Separate something into smaller pieces

is narrower, naming the action that makes thin, narrow strips
to chop up
vsto shred
56 1.9

To cut something into smaller pieces by sharp blows again and again with a knife or axe

involves chopping action rather than careful cutting into thin strips
to tear up
vsto shred
39 2.7

To rip something into small pieces

focuses more on producing thin, narrow strips rather than general pieces
to cut up
vsto shred
32 1.1

Make something into smaller pieces using scissors or a knife

is similar but specifies making thin, narrow strips rather than generic pieces
to demolish
vsto shred
15 4.2

Completely destroy an idea, argument, or reputation

can be physical too but primarily focuses on making thin, narrow strips
to rip it up
vsto shred
  • Informal
11 6.7

To tear something into pieces or throw it away and start again

is similar but emphasizes cutting into thin, narrow strips instead
to rip to shreds
vsto shred
  • Informal
10 6.9

Tear something into many pieces or say very bad things about it

applies physically too but mainly denotes cutting into thin, narrow strips
to rend
vsto shred
10 8.7

To pull something apart with great force

matches force but highlights making thin, narrow strips rather than general tearing
to rip up
vsto shred
8 2.8

To tear something into small pieces

is the same but stresses thin, narrow strips rather than pieces
to cut to pieces
vsto shred
8 5.4

Break something into many small parts or hurt someone very badly

matches the physical cutting sense but stresses thin, narrow strips specifically
to smash up
vsto shred
  • Informal
5 4.7

To damage something very badly so it breaks into pieces

is more about cutting into long thin strips than general violent damage
to discerp
vsto shred
  • Archaic
9.9

To tear something into separate parts, usually by force

overlaps in force but focuses on long, thin strips rather than mere parts
to fragmentize
vsto shred
8.2

To break something into many small pieces

is more about producing long thin strips rather than random fragments

Antonyms

to assemble
169 2.9

To put parts together to make something like a machine or toy

Phrasal Verbs

to shred document
1 3.9

To cut important papers into small pieces so no one can read them

Compounds

shred guitar solo
  • Jargon
7.9

A very fast guitar solo that shows great skill

How Torn

to destroy
∞ 1.0
to shred
112 2.6
to tear
∞ 1.0
to cut
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

shred infinitive
shredded past
shredded past participle
shredding present participle
shreds third person singular

Etymology

Shred comes from the same old English root scred, which meant 'a piece' and was connected to cutting actions like those in shear. So to shred something is to cut or tear it into many small, thin pieces.