shattering

Definition of shatteringnext
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 Five of his shots were blocked by Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso, who finished with nine for the game and an ACC Tournament-record 20 over three games, shattering Tim Duncan’s record of 14, which stood for 31 years. Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026 Luxury real estate is getting even more exclusive The backdrop of this trend is a record-shattering luxury real estate market. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026 In the end, that terror takes over, and Jones writes its results with shattering simplicity. Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 Since launching her record-shattering Eras Tour in 2023, the superstar has inspired fans to emulate everything from her red carpet glamour to her off-duty staples. Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 13 Mar. 2026 Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s Southern gothic-horror epic the 21-year-old stars in, has been nominated for a record-shattering 16 awards. Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026 From thunderous victory to shattering downfall, this play delivers sweeping action sequences, political intrigue, and a theatrical experience that hits with the force of a battle drum. Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026 That burst of momentum came in a primary that was already shattering spending records. Nik Popli, Time, 4 Mar. 2026 Lab studies have generally found shutters can reduce the risk of windows shattering. Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shattering
Verb
  • The man, purportedly Weis, who is now in police custody, was discovered late Monday night by security after hearing reports of someone destroying glass sculptures on the grounds.
    News Desk, Artforum, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is massacring young people and destroying Iran’s future.
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The next rebound in temperatures is already underway in parts of the Midwest and will spread to portions of the Northeast into the weekend as the edge of a massive, record-smashing heat dome in the Southwest expands.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Las Vegas hit 99 degrees, smashing the previous record of 93, set in 2022.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The president, who admits this all could be challenged in court, urged the panel to back the SCORE Act, which would preempt state regulation of NIL payments, which the Commander in Chief says are especially ruining women’s sports.
    Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Google Nest WiFi Deal Bad Wi-Fi has a way of ruining everything.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The 39-year-old photographer from Beirut captured a stunning sequence of images in the early hours of Wednesday, showing an IDF missile demolishing a tower block in one fell swoop.
    Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The emails contain no detailed exchanges about arena negotiations, no plans tying a new venue to the City Hall site and no evidence of internal talks about demolishing the building for that purpose.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Rain fell, devastating the snowpack.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026
  • But by the early 1990s, industrial bottom trawlers had decimated cod stocks, and in 1992, the Canadian government instituted a moratorium on cod fishing, devastating the industry and ending a long-standing way of life.
    Gina DeCaprio Vercesi, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Wind speeds were blowing at 12 mph in Grant, with gusts up to 29 mph, and Fairplay was seeing winds at 21 mph with gusts of up to 38 mph at the time of the closure, according to AccuWeather.
    Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The episode about Secret Squirrel and the perils of surveillance culture feels more relevant than ever, as does the climate-change episode in which the time-traveling Jetson family sues people of the present for wrecking their future.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Last month, the city approved funds for a wrecking company to demolish buildings in the 1800 and 1900 blocks of Santa Fe.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Democratic states like Illinois, Washington and Massachusetts are exploding state spending and proposing tax hikes on top earners to fund an ever-growing array of programs and handouts.
    Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
  • And Elijah Wood provides a cheeky, bemused-insider vibe as the Danforths’ lawyer, who’s overseeing the technicalities and generally hiding behind a lectern when contestants start exploding.
    Jada Yuan, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shattering. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

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