VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
verbverb

déchiqueter

shred

Definition & meaning

The verb déchiqueter primarily means to tear, cut, or break something into many small, irregular pieces or shreds. It conveys a sense of destruction or violent fragmentation.

There are several contexts in which this word is used:

  • Physical destruction: To shred something like paper, fabric, or meat. For example, a machine that shreds documents is called a déchiqueteuse .
  • Mechanical action: In industry or gardening, it refers to the process of grinding or chipping materials, such as wood or plastic, into smaller components.
  • Animal behavior: It describes the action of a predator or a dog tearing its prey or a toy into pieces.
  • Figurative use: While less common, it can describe someone being "torn apart" by harsh criticism or being emotionally devastated.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

  • déchiqueter is a regular first-group verb (ending in -er).
  • It features a spelling peculiarity common to verbs ending in -eter. In many tenses, the "e" before the "t" changes to "è" to maintain the correct pronunciation when the following syllable is silent. For example: je déchiquète (I shred) but nous déchiquetons (we shred).

Word Origin:

  • The word is composed of the prefix dé- , which often indicates a reversal or an intensive action, and the root chicot .
  • A chicot refers to a stump of a tree, a fragment, or a small jagged piece (like a broken tooth). Therefore, the literal sense of the word is to reduce something to small, jagged fragments or "chicots."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Déchirer : To tear or rip (the most common general synonym).
  • Lacérer : To slash or cut deeply and irregularly, often used in a violent context.
  • Broyer : To grind, crush, or pulverize.
  • Hacher : To chop or mince into very small pieces.
  • Mutiler : To mangle or severely disfigure.

Antonyms:

  • Assembler : To put pieces together or assemble.
  • Recoudre : To sew back together.
  • Réparer : To fix or restore something that was broken.
  • Unir : To join or unite separate parts into one.

Make “déchiqueter” part of your vocabulary.

Build your French vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

Il déchiquette le papier.verb

He shreds the paper.

Keep exploring French

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play