shatter 1 of 3

1
2
as in to smash
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

shattering

2 of 3

verb (2)

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

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

shatter

3 of 3

noun

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 shatter
Verb
Baby Freddy rips his way out, shrieking so loud the windows shatter. Michael Lee Simpson, EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024 The family heard plates and glasses shatter — and then boots stomping up the stairs. Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project broke records for daily power demand last week, shattering the records set just a month ago when temperatures also climbed above 115 degrees. Joanna Allhands, AZCentral.com, 11 Aug. 2025 Today, with the return of great power competition, that illusion has shattered. Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatter
Noun
  • Trump splinters with Federal Society Trump and his allies are waging a war against the Federalist Society as parts of his second-term agenda are blocked by some of his own judicial nominees.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 4 June 2025
  • The butterfly-open design gives quick access to tweezers for bee stings or wooden splinters, and sharp scissors for clipping trail tape or loose threads—all while staying impressively lightweight.
    Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • The reader bobs along in the author’s stream of consciousness, riding crests of despair, anger, and hilarity as Toews assembles the shards of her past to investigate her will to write, which is deeply entwined with her will to live.
    Kristen Martin, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Two influencers filming a food review video inside a Houston restaurant inadvertently captured the terrifying moment an SUV crashed through the glass wall beside their table, showering them with shards in the middle of their meal.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Riedel and her crew now have their own YouTube show with nearly 250,000 subscribers who watch miners screen for gold flakes carried down rivers from inland deposits.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Ingredients 1 cup rolled oats ¼ cup coconut flakes ½ cup dark chocolate chips ½ cup smooth peanut butter 2 tablespoons maple syrup 2 tablespoons cacao nibs Recipe Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl.
    Ashia Aubourg, Outside, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In 2024, a staggering 97% of all sports wagers in Indiana were made through digital platforms, leaving retail casinos with only a sliver of the market.
    Ethan Hylton, IndyStar, 20 Aug. 2025
  • There’s a sliver of hope, however, for the return of monsoon conditions at the end of August — or at least some cloud cover.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • And the first tsunami wave of tariffs announced in April sent shivers through bond markets, leaving the global economy teetering on the brink before Trump’s advisers convinced him to temporarily pause most of the new tariffs.
    Wally Adeyemo, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Unusually cold weather will give them the shivers, and Tuesday night’s wild winds could whip the caps off their heads and do weird things to baseballs.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • These routine moments can either reinforce brand credibility or subtly chip away at it.
    Brandon Spear, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Scheffler’s chip from off the green on 17 has been replayed more than any other shot of this year’s tour.
    Dennis Esser, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatter. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.

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