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
Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Here’s what to do when faced with the shatter heard around the world.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025
Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The Korean survival drama’s latest season shattered Netflix records with over 60 million views in three days and became the first show to rank No. 1 in all 93 countries where Netflix maintains Top 10 lists during its debut week.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shatter
Verb
The family heard plates and glasses shatter — and then boots stomping up the stairs.
—Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Here’s what to do when faced with the shatter heard around the world.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
The crowd laughing at the pair attempting to have a private conversation shattered the barrier between performers and audience.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The Korean survival drama’s latest season shattered Netflix records with over 60 million views in three days and became the first show to rank No. 1 in all 93 countries where Netflix maintains Top 10 lists during its debut week.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatter
Verb
-
In September 2024, the same month as the pager attack and assassination of Hezbollah’s leader, Israel launched the most extensive campaign of airstrikes in the air force’s history hitherto, destroying much of Hezbollah’s strategic surface-to-surface missile stockpiles.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Grossi acknowledged that some of the uranium already enriched by Iranian scientists could have been destroyed as part of the attack.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
The other oar was smashed off, and the raft was littered up with leaves and branches and dirt.—
John Nogowski,
Hartford Courant,
6 July 2025
-
The Bay of Fundy in Canada, which has the highest tidal range in the world (reaching up to 50 ft (15 m) and would make for an excellent source of clean energy for the region, has routinely been smashing tidal turbines to bits with its rapid tidal streams.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
There were a few blowdowns and freshly busted logs, their splinters cast across the trail like confetti.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Outside Online,
20 June 2025
-
Fragmentation splinters data, so even simple tasks drag.—
Miguel Kudry,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Now a wonderful memory of the occasion will be ruined in my memories.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
9 July 2025
-
The ceiling was now on the floor, the world had turned itself upside down, her outfit and her day and her rug were seemingly ruined—and yet she herself was not hurt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Hegseth touted Caine's explanation as proof the bombs fully demolished Fordow.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
-
The more than 115-year-old Advocate Trinity building on the Southeast Side of Chicago, on 93rd Street, will continue to serve patients until the new hospital is ready, at which point it will be demolished.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
Any line, any poem, can only be made of shards and grains.—
Cindy Juyoung Ok
June 26,
Literary Hub,
26 June 2025
-
Pure Heroine is so effective, and why Melodrama can feel at once like walking across shards of glass and experiencing an euphoric release.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
People were aware of the risk of fires following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and a 1923 magnitude 8 earthquake and firestorm that devastated Tokyo and Yokohama, causing an astonishing 142,800 deaths, according to the USGS.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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He’s been through adversity and grown stronger James’ drive to give back began during his freshman year at Tulane, when Hurricane Ida devastated New Orleans.—
Shane Connuck
June 26,
Charlotte Observer,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Some of the clips have also already begun to go viral including one of Chase’s gazelle-like movement and another of Hill blowing by Smith-Njigba in coverage.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatter. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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