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
Yet for all of Malinin’s athleticism and his Beamonesque ability to take flight what has been most telling in what has already been a world record-shattering Olympic season has been the maturity of his skating, the willingness to take emotional risks in his programs.
—
Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
Bana and Rocha were among the 615 participants in the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Thursday at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, shattering the record of 540 set in 2024, and collectively raising more than $20,000 for Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
This tiny amount of copper acts as a molecular steering wheel, preventing sugar molecules from shattering into useless carbon dioxide.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Her new drama stars Léa Seydoux as a renowned pianist who relocates with her family to the countryside and then uncovers a life-shattering truth that forces her to confront the complexities of love and trust.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
The neighbors' long-standing border conflict reignited this month, shattering an earlier truce and killing at least 47 people, according to official counts.
—CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025
Rowlands' performance is shattering, giving us a deeply vulnerable look into Mabel's fractured psyche.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
The Mile High City has been shattering temperature records this winter amid unseasonably warm conditions.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 25 Dec. 2025
But this average-looking citizen could become almost anything, throwing himself into roles with shattering power.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
Bana and Rocha were among the 615 participants in the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Thursday at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, shattering the record of 540 set in 2024, and collectively raising more than $20,000 for Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
This tiny amount of copper acts as a molecular steering wheel, preventing sugar molecules from shattering into useless carbon dioxide.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
Her new drama stars Léa Seydoux as a renowned pianist who relocates with her family to the countryside and then uncovers a life-shattering truth that forces her to confront the complexities of love and trust.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
The neighbors' long-standing border conflict reignited this month, shattering an earlier truce and killing at least 47 people, according to official counts.
—CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025
Rowlands' performance is shattering, giving us a deeply vulnerable look into Mabel's fractured psyche.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
The Mile High City has been shattering temperature records this winter amid unseasonably warm conditions.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 25 Dec. 2025
But this average-looking citizen could become almost anything, throwing himself into roles with shattering power.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 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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As Hodges stood there, scared and vulnerable, the man grabbed his baton and bashed him on the head with it, rupturing his lip and smashing his skull.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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The man accused of smashing windows on Vice President JD Vance's home with a hammer is facing separate prosecutions in state and federal court.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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The video then shows the man asking if the situation was ruining Kaleel's Christmas.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
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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Scenario two is that Harbaugh is leveraging the Giants’ rabid interest but ultimately could take a different job, devastating this desperate fan base.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Rubella, also called German measles, is mild in children but devastating to fetuses, causing deafness, heart defects and intellectual disabilities when pregnant women are infected.—
Jake Scott,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
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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The one that is responsible, once and for all, for fixing a defense that’s been complicit in wrecking three straight seasons of Burrow, Chase and Higgins.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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And can interest be reduced without wrecking your financial future?—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The overlapping relationships between the three, heightened by external narratives in the press and online, fester in isolation, eventually exploding into tragedy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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Yoo thinks the company lost momentum after the 2016 Galaxy Note 7 crisis, when exploding batteries forced a massive recall.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shattering. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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