1
as in destroying
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 smashing
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 demolishing
to cause to break with violence and much noise
shattered the priceless vase in one clumsy fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shattering
When a world-shattering event turns most of the global population into a friendly hive mind, Carol sets out to protect her individuality.
—
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
But this average-looking citizen could become almost anything, throwing himself into roles with shattering power.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The move to limit flights comes as the record-shattering government shutdown stretches into its fifth week, keeping resources from airport staff and leaving air traffic controllers without pay.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
At Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders voted in favor of giving CEO Musk a gargantuan, record-shattering pay package that could give him stock worth $1 trillion after several years.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Lux makes a potent argument for letting Rosalía tear through the annals of history and for shattering our limited view of pop as merely bubbly party music.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
The user shared another clip in the thread that followed, showing the G1 breaking into a room like a burglar, shattering a glass door.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
But to have somebody that's a main character like that actually get killed was something that was shattering to everybody.
—Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
In June, Walter reached his $10 billion agreement to buy the Lakers, shattering the previous control-sale record, which was the agreement for the Boston Celtics that closed in August.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
But this average-looking citizen could become almost anything, throwing himself into roles with shattering power.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The move to limit flights comes as the record-shattering government shutdown stretches into its fifth week, keeping resources from airport staff and leaving air traffic controllers without pay.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
At Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders voted in favor of giving CEO Musk a gargantuan, record-shattering pay package that could give him stock worth $1 trillion after several years.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Lux makes a potent argument for letting Rosalía tear through the annals of history and for shattering our limited view of pop as merely bubbly party music.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
The user shared another clip in the thread that followed, showing the G1 breaking into a room like a burglar, shattering a glass door.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
But to have somebody that's a main character like that actually get killed was something that was shattering to everybody.
—Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
In June, Walter reached his $10 billion agreement to buy the Lakers, shattering the previous control-sale record, which was the agreement for the Boston Celtics that closed in August.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shattering
Verb
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And candidates who stoked fear in voters — with the threat of towering multi-family complexes destroying their communities or costly local infrastructure projects driving up taxes — lost by clear margins.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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Derek Lopez, 27, was fired from his role at the university after he was caught on camera destroying a Turning Point display.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Within a few years of leaving Texas, Rauschenberg had upended everything the place had meant to him, smashing through the parochialism of small-town Southern life, where necks were broken in Jesus’ name, and families indentured or murdered.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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The role would typically involve smashing a bottle of champagne against the bow before sending the vessel out on its maiden voyage.—
Mackenzie Schmidt,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Chiefs have seen some of league’s premier running backs — such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs — and have met each challenge, preventing those elite players from ruining the defensive game plan.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
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Clark reiterated his belief that the Dodgers are not ruining baseball.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The military showed us a map of Hamas tunnel routes Israeli forces are still discovering and demolishing in the area.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Most recently, crews began demolishing the East Wing of the White House.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Last year’s devastating drought in the Amazon Basin was made 30 times more likely by climate change, according to a report from World Weather Attribution, a network of scientists that analyze extreme weather events.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Earlier this year, California’s devastating Eaton Fire destroyed much of Altadena, a diverse, creative community just north of Pasadena.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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What To Know In , the Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island are expected to see blowing snow and strong southeasterly winds from early Sunday morning through the afternoon.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After those rules are broken, the gremlin spawns more of its kind and end up wrecking havoc on Billy’s hometown during Christmas.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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Storm preparations Cuba has been struck almost yearly by a major hurricane in recent years, sometimes twice, wrecking the country’s already decrepit infrastructure, damaging crops and destroying thousands of homes in precarious condition.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Down 13 in the fourth quarter of Game 3, Wade fueled an epic comeback win, exploding for 42 points and 13 rebounds, putting the team on his back.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
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Its schools are ranked among the best in Texas, and the job market is exploding, with jobs in information technology, finance, and healthcare on the rise.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shattering. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
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