shattering

present participle of shatter
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

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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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shattering Plus, Skullcandy's Crusher Bass technology utilizes dedicated bass drivers to really give you a head-banging experience, sending bone-shattering bass pulsating through your skull. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026 An August heat wave brought record-shattering temperatures to Southern California. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Jackson has poured more than $200 million of his personal fortune into the race, shattering state records. — AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026 As chairman of the Jackie Robinson Day Committee, Levis helped organize the celebration and personally presented the ceiling-shattering Black major leaguer with gifts from fans across the country. — Zachary Kranc, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026 Trouvé seems drawn to anything that implies a semblance of order and finding ways of shattering it along the way. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Divorce can be world-shattering for the people experiencing it. — Grey Battle, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026 While much of the plot still remains hidden in the eastern European nation of Latveria, it is known to feature heroes from different timelines that team-up to fight the universe-shattering peril of a sorcerer scientist named Doctor Doom. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026 Not since the Tesla Cybertruck made its glass-shattering debut in 2019 has a vehicle’s unveiling proven as polarizing as the Luce event. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shattering
Verb
  • After destroying much of Gaza and killing tens of thousands of Palestinians, Israel has regained military control of nearly 70 percent of the strip.
    — Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But if firms lean on AI to cut lower-level work, the risk is destroying the very avenue of apprenticeship that produces future senior associates and managers.
    — Tim Brackney, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police.
    — ELITSA GADEVA, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • This was the 36th launch and landing for B1063, which notably launched NASA's DART asteroid-smashing mission in November 2021.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The song is a cautionary tale about a brothel in New Orleans known for ruining many poor girls.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • As wet electrodes get thicker, the liquid binder migrates unevenly during drying, ruining the battery‘s structure.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Following the attack, the Israeli military began forcing Palestinian families to leave their homes in parts of the city as forces began demolishing homes and businesses.
    — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Photographs from Hebron showed Israeli bulldozers demolishing at least one Palestinian building.
    — Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The earthquake comes less than two months after a border region of Nepal and Tibet was struck by devastating flash flooding that left hundreds of people dead and destroyed several communities.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been fighting since April 2023, devastating large parts of the country and threatening stability along its borders.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The Pixel 10a can climb to a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, blowing rivals out of the water.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The umbrella was quickly rendered useless as the winds were blowing hard.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • From Miami to Fort Lauderdale, residents struggled through the saltwater suddenly seeping into their neighborhoods and wrecking their commute.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick crossed the line while wrecking after Larson hit the wall trying to chase down Briscoe on the final turn.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In August, a fire triggered by an exploding air conditioner killed 14 newborns in a nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Why biomarker testing is exploding right now Patients want more control and faster answers.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shattering. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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