# shredded

/ˈʃɹɛdɪd/ (US) · /ʃɹˈɛdɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shredded
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. cut into strips

adjective · CEFR B1

cut or torn into many long, thin pieces.

For teachers: reduced to narrow strips or small fragments, typically by mechanical means.

- Add some shredded cheese to the top of the pasta before serving.
- The office manager insisted that all sensitive documents be shredded before they were placed in the recycling bin.

### 2. muscular

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

having very strong, clear muscles and very little body fat.

For teachers: exhibiting extreme muscular definition and minimal subcutaneous fat.

- He spent all summer at the gym and now he looks totally shredded.
- The bodybuilder arrived at the competition looking shredded, with every muscle group clearly visible under the stage lights.

Usage: Commonly used in fitness and bodybuilding contexts to describe a peak physical state.

## Examples

- He looks shredded after months of training for the competition.
- The athlete followed a strict diet and exercise routine to get shredded before the summer photo shoot.
- Achieving a shredded physique requires a precise balance of heavy resistance training and a significant caloric deficit to strip away subcutaneous fat while preserving lean muscle mass.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.