1
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
tried to restore their shattered hopes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to smash
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
shattered the sealed clay pot to find out what was inside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to demolish
to cause to break with violence and much noise
shattered the priceless vase in one clumsy fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in splinter
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shatter
Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
Forty-eight days, 16 hours, 57 minutes and 12 seconds after a virus transforms humanity into a blissful symbiotic horde, one of its survivors, Carol (Rhea Seehorn), treats a rooftop as a personal driving range — the golf balls shattering a neighboring building’s windows.
—Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Joe Davidson
march 7, Sacbee.com, 8 Mar. 2026
The lid is made of shatter-resistant construction with a magnet that makes for easy opening and closing.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shatter
Verb
Renowned for his defense-shattering runs, vision, and dribbling, his time at FC Barcelona was legendary.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
Forty-eight days, 16 hours, 57 minutes and 12 seconds after a virus transforms humanity into a blissful symbiotic horde, one of its survivors, Carol (Rhea Seehorn), treats a rooftop as a personal driving range — the golf balls shattering a neighboring building’s windows.
—Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Noun
Though the Big Sky Conference Tournament is officially listed as a neutral-site game, Sac State finished 0-17 away from Hornet Pavilion, Sac State’s new on-campus venue that helped the school shatter attendance records.
—Joe Davidson
march 7, Sacbee.com, 8 Mar. 2026
The lid is made of shatter-resistant construction with a magnet that makes for easy opening and closing.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatter
Verb
-
In July 1936, anarchists set fire to the church’s crypt and broke into the architect’s workshop before destroying many of his plans and plaster models.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
The Russian president, who has never acknowledged that Ukraine is a legitimate country, or that Zelensky is its legitimate president, could continue to bomb Ukrainian cities, hoping to destroy the electrical grid and make the country unlivable.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The men would brandish firearms and smash car windows before demanding that the victim hand over the money.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
-
Every day, there are news reports of hundreds of people rioting in cities across our country — windows being smashed, merchandise stolen, police vehicles damaged and people being attacked and injured.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
But as the season neared the winter transfer window, the expectation was for Mainoo to leave on loan rather than continue to pick up splinters on the bench.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
Militant groups operating in northern Nigeria include Boko Haram and a splinter organization that broke away to affiliate with the Islamic State group.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Years earlier, in 2001, the undercover detective involved claimed her career had been ruined by the case, and received around $166,000 in an out-of-court settlement, per the BBC.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
-
Think about it the next time a presidential rant ruins your coffee.—
Steven Andreasen,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Two other properties were purchased in 2024, one of which was a barbershop that was demolished, and a third property was purchased in 2025.—
Delia Rose Sauer,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Before filing plans to demolish the building within the next two weeks, Kennedy planned Thursday night’s event to honor the structure.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Thursday night’s detonation of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket during a static-fire test produced a spectacular fireball over Florida, sending shards of the rocket flying far and wide, into the sea and across the coastal scrubland nearby.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
-
Up close, the design featured far more detail, boasting peek-a-boo lace cups and hundreds of shards of stone and crystals.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Horvath has faced issues in her district, which includes county areas devastated by the Palisades fire.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 June 2026
-
In the case of Tom Brandis, played by the singular Mark Ruffalo, a tragedy (matricide) has devastated his family unit.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Somewhere a hand was raised, a whistle was blown, and all at once the butchers were out of their stalls, assembling in the aisles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
The Washington Nationals used Richard Lovelady, who blew Monday’s series opener, as an opener, followed by veteran Miles Mikolas for a bulk appearance, their most promising combination given their roster construction and arms available.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatter. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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