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
As the table fell behind Cenat, shattering into pieces, the streamer looked behind him, cut the music, and asked his friends to fess up.
—
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
August made history on its own, but compared to the record-shattering extremes of 2023 and 2024, this year had fewer heat streaks.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Poitras and Obenhaus include the most haunting moments from that TV report, along with a brief and shattering clip of Michael Bernhardt, an Army private who refused to participate in the My Lai killings and was one of Hersh’s sources.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
His terse sendoff denies Dexter the satisfaction of closure and forgiveness, shattering his former colleague’s world before shuffling off it.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
With these record-shattering fines, the invoice for that business model has finally been delivered.
—Vivian Toh, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The show’s seventh season was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, amassing a record-shattering 18 billion minutes viewed.
—Essence, 28 Aug. 2025
Not earth-shattering numbers, but their Premier League top-scorer was Paul Onuachu, with four.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
At the same time, less positive headlines also appear, shattering the idea that pro sports are universally a golden ticket.
—Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
August made history on its own, but compared to the record-shattering extremes of 2023 and 2024, this year had fewer heat streaks.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Poitras and Obenhaus include the most haunting moments from that TV report, along with a brief and shattering clip of Michael Bernhardt, an Army private who refused to participate in the My Lai killings and was one of Hersh’s sources.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
His terse sendoff denies Dexter the satisfaction of closure and forgiveness, shattering his former colleague’s world before shuffling off it.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
With these record-shattering fines, the invoice for that business model has finally been delivered.
—Vivian Toh, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The show’s seventh season was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, amassing a record-shattering 18 billion minutes viewed.
—Essence, 28 Aug. 2025
Not earth-shattering numbers, but their Premier League top-scorer was Paul Onuachu, with four.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
At the same time, less positive headlines also appear, shattering the idea that pro sports are universally a golden ticket.
—Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shattering
Verb
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The two initial quakes flattened villages in both provinces, destroying more than 6,700 homes, and rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble on Thursday.—
Mohammad Yunus Yawar,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
As Greengrass was editing the picture, wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Southern California, killing residents and destroying homes.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Police, a renowned English rock band, formed in 1977, looping together Sting, Copeland and Summers for an act that rode the new wave to smashing success through the late '70s and early '80s.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Even the squirles are smashing their bread extra hard.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Lewis Hamilton lost control of his Ferrari and crashed out of the Dutch Grand Prix, ruining a chance to nab a good haul of points.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Thanks, man, for ruining an almost-letter-perfect red-carpet walk.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
-
After filing the first lawsuit, attorney Katie Steele of Varghese Summersett also sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the owners from removing or destroying tenants’ property from the units, or demolishing the building, and to preserve critical evidence in the case.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kahani’s work is of a piece with that of bigger-name compatriots like Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof in its protest against the Iranian government, though his droll-to-devastating approach is very much his own.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
21 Aug. 2025
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Additionally, deadly waves of violent extremism in places like Nigeria and India are devastating whole communities and going unchecked.—
Miles P. J. Windsor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But the Ravens are gaining on them after blowing a 15-point lead to the Bills in the fourth quarter of the teams’ epic opener Sunday night.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The sophomore, who is the youngest player ever voted captain under coach Jay Norvell, was a one-man wrecking crew against the Huskies with a game-high 13 tackles.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
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For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The president’s post was accompanied by a black and white video apparently taken with night vision equipment of a fast boat traveling with a number of occupants before suddenly exploding and bursting into flames.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
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One group is connected to solar flares exploding from small regions of the sun, while the other population is connected to larger, more powerful outbursts of plasma called coronal mass ejections (CMEs).—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shattering. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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