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
Two men left and fired into the restaurant from the outside, shattering windows and striking two teenagers.
—
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
The crash’s giddy prequel, dramatic unfolding, and shattering aftermath—the Great Depression—has long provided compelling material for writers.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Taylor Swift shattering records with the biggest album debut in history with over four million units.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Taylor Swift shattering records with the biggest album debut in history with over four million units.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2025
The cast must have required a boxful of Chloraseptic by the shoot’s end, considering how a good third of the dialogue is shouted at intense decibel-shattering levels.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
This palm-sized gadget has a sharp spike on one end that’s capable of shattering thick auto glass.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
For leftovers, there’s a set of glass Pyrex containers that can be placed in the freezer or microwave with no worries about shattering.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
So to decide whether to marry or move on for good, one person issues an ultimatum, kicking off a potentially relationship-shattering experiment.
—Peter White, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
The crash’s giddy prequel, dramatic unfolding, and shattering aftermath—the Great Depression—has long provided compelling material for writers.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Taylor Swift shattering records with the biggest album debut in history with over four million units.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Taylor Swift shattering records with the biggest album debut in history with over four million units.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2025
The cast must have required a boxful of Chloraseptic by the shoot’s end, considering how a good third of the dialogue is shouted at intense decibel-shattering levels.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
This palm-sized gadget has a sharp spike on one end that’s capable of shattering thick auto glass.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
For leftovers, there’s a set of glass Pyrex containers that can be placed in the freezer or microwave with no worries about shattering.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
So to decide whether to marry or move on for good, one person issues an ultimatum, kicking off a potentially relationship-shattering experiment.
—Peter White, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shattering
Verb
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The county was also heavily affected by the 2021 floods that swept most of Middle Tennessee, with high waters washing away multiple roads and even destroying a church in the Pinewood community, according to previous Tennessean reporting.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
10 Oct. 2025
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Just two years earlier, devastating floods swept through Middle Tennessee, damaging infrastructure and destroying a church in Pinewood.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Balmer reportedly scaled a wall outside the mansion in Harrisburg before smashing windows, throwing homemade incendiary devices and eventually entering himself.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The Vultee aircraft completed a flight from Los Angeles to New York in 11 hours and 34 minutes and 16 seconds, smashing the existing record of 12 hours for that distance.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Packages of flying tortillas thrown at the wrong time, or pocket knives, would only hurt a reputation that Texas Tech has worked doggedly to change and show that the Red Raiders are at home on a national stage, and not the crazy drunk uncle ruining a holiday.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Since 2021, Spotify has offered an alternative app for kids to listen to music without ruining their parents recommendations.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Barner holds his arms parallel to the ground and swings them side to side while slowly stomping forward like Godzilla demolishing a city.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Often, demolishing a former shopping mall can be easier for builders who might then decide to build luxury housing that does not address the current affordability crisis.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Not even a month had passed since his big sister, Toraya, was shot and killed at an apartment complex in New Jersey, devastating the Reid family and shaking the Timberwolves organization to its core.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Oil was discovered there in the 1920s, and the county went through booms and busts for decades, enriching wildcatters and devastating the landscape, until a lasting bust left Loving County a virtual wasteland with no running water, paved roads, schools, hospitals, or grocery stores.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The blowing skirt shot became the key ad image for the film.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One raid saw masked federal agents repelling from Black Hawk helicopters and wrecking an apartment building.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
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The wrecking-ball style is the way King played even at Longview (Texas) High, where his father was the coach, and didn’t coddle or protect his son, as Dickey remembers.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, former Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle combined for 239 total yards for the Panthers (183 rushing, 56 receiving) a week after exploding for 234 total yards (206 rushing, 28 receiving) in a win over Miami.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Oct. 2025
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The suits are never mentioned again, even as Robinson tells elaborate stories about TK Jewelers selling him an exploding watch and L&L Limos using a black piece of plywood to divide the car in half and sell the back of his limo to a guy with a Super Bowl ring.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shattering. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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