1
as in destroys
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 smashes
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 demolishes
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 shatters
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Security footage provided by Elfvin shows the robot rolling directly into the side panel of a bus shelter, which shatters and showers the robot and sidewalk around it with what appears to be glass shards.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
For example, people now take care to wear shoes at home in case an explosion shatters glass, or there’s a need to evacuate immediately.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
At that moment, the mirror reflecting the entire contents of Frenza’s mind from the past few days shatters in a kaleidoscope of dreams.
—Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Mahajan simultaneously shatters and showcases Hindu nationalism.
—Sibani Ram, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Unlike more cohesive dictatorships, Iran’s youth, middle class and ethnic minorities — Persians number less than 50% in a nation with seven major ethnic groups — are primed to rise once air power shatters the mullahs’ control.
—Chuck Devore, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
The Creature is slowed, however, when gunfire shatters the ice around its feet, plunging it into the cold sea.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
The series, based on a novel by Araminta Hall, delves into a crime that shatters a long-standing friendship among the three lead characters.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Related Stories The film shatters stereotypical visuals of space, veering away from cold and desaturated colors, and using warmer tones such as orange.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Security footage provided by Elfvin shows the robot rolling directly into the side panel of a bus shelter, which shatters and showers the robot and sidewalk around it with what appears to be glass shards.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
For example, people now take care to wear shoes at home in case an explosion shatters glass, or there’s a need to evacuate immediately.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
At that moment, the mirror reflecting the entire contents of Frenza’s mind from the past few days shatters in a kaleidoscope of dreams.
—Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Mahajan simultaneously shatters and showcases Hindu nationalism.
—Sibani Ram, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Unlike more cohesive dictatorships, Iran’s youth, middle class and ethnic minorities — Persians number less than 50% in a nation with seven major ethnic groups — are primed to rise once air power shatters the mullahs’ control.
—Chuck Devore, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
The Creature is slowed, however, when gunfire shatters the ice around its feet, plunging it into the cold sea.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
The series, based on a novel by Araminta Hall, delves into a crime that shatters a long-standing friendship among the three lead characters.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatters
Verb
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The extreme heat kills the plant tissue immediately and typically destroys the roots of many weed species.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Delivery robot smashes into glass of bus shelter in Old Town on Tuesday afternoon.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, Bridget has a bold take that smashes our assumptions about what science is supposed to look like to smithereens.—
Mariel Carr,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Cristobal’s arc can use a mite more variance overall, but her playing of Margot’s inner-torture from having to live with the literal shards of blood on her neck is effective.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Most of those issues have been from oil, lubrication, other or casing or shards inside the engines.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Lee’s reputation would suffer serious blows more recently.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
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Plan on a brisk Friday afternoon and evening as much colder air blows into Maryland.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Their performance is stoking a rising sense of anxiety among Democrats as their vote splinters among a field of eight contenders, with the head of the state party calling on low-polling candidates to quit by April 15.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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From removing splinters or opening bandages, to snagging ingrown hairs and tightening eyeglass screws, tweezers are one of those travel essentials that my mom never regrets packing.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Kyiv residents endure long daily blackouts as Russia devastates the power system, leaving tower block dwellers freezing in apartments with no heat or light.—
Derek Gatopoulos,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2026
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Exacerbating the problem, unpredictable rainfall cycling between drought and floods further devastates the region.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The main weapon that the Ukrainians had used to inflict this damage was the suicide drone, which costs about $400 to make and explodes on impact.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Characters will die and the entire lab sometimes explodes, only for things to snap back to normal in the very next episode.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatters. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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