shatter

1 of 2

verb

shat·​ter ˈsha-tər How to pronounce shatter (audio)
shattered; shattering; shatters

transitive verb

1
: to cause to drop or be dispersed
2
a
: to break at once into pieces
b
: to damage badly : ruin
3
: to cause the disruption or annihilation of : demolish

intransitive verb

1
: to break apart : disintegrate
2
: to drop off parts (such as leaves, petals, or fruit)
shatteringly adverb

shatter

2 of 2

noun

1
: fragment, shred
usually used in plural
the broken vase lay in shatters
2
: an act of shattering : the state of being shattered
3
: a result of shattering : shower

Examples of shatter in a Sentence

Verb The rock shattered the window. His dreams were shattered by their rejection. The end of his marriage shattered him emotionally.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Finally, impact strength assesses a material’s ability to absorb sudden shocks without shattering, highlighting that the hardness alone doesn’t always mean toughness. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025 Any sense of safety that once existed in the Qatari capital – a longtime haven for Hamas officials, with the tacit agreement of the US and Israel – has now been shattered. Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
Each container is made from BPA-free plastic that is shatter-proof, stain-, and odor-resistant. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2025 Jake makes a toast to the Black Rabbit — the staff, OG investors, and devoted VIPs that make up the court of this indie–sleaze–Studio 54 castle — just in time to watch the scene shatter in a flash of nervous gunfire. Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shatter

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English schateren — more at scatter

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shatter was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shatter. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

shatter

verb
shat·​ter
ˈshat-ər
1
: to break or fall to pieces
the window shattered
2
: to damage badly : ruin, wreck
the bad news will shatter their morale

More from Merriam-Webster on shatter

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