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
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026
This type of error creates friction and shatters trust.
—Jerry Haywood, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The other, from the southwest Khuzestan province, has a filling of dates, walnuts and coconut and pastry that shatters like a shell.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
His refusal to take the curse seriously shatters her trust, leaving her questioning their entire relationship.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 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
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
Verb
The two commit to a duel, each agreeing to fire their guns when a bottle of champagne rolls off the bar and shatters on the floor.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026
This type of error creates friction and shatters trust.
—Jerry Haywood, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The other, from the southwest Khuzestan province, has a filling of dates, walnuts and coconut and pastry that shatters like a shell.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
His refusal to take the curse seriously shatters her trust, leaving her questioning their entire relationship.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatters
Verb
-
Young people must understand clearly that violence destroys not only victims, but entire families and communities.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
-
But Bogan told the outlet those assurances fall short if construction bulldozes the critical turtle habitat, compromises the manmade earthen dam that holds the springs' pond, or destroys the mesquite thicket downstream where turtles shelter in winter.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Then the climax subsides for a lovely coda of strings, accompanied by a denouement in which the now casually clad, contemporary-looking singer smashes up her play set in the apartment where she’s presumably been brooding over all this stuff.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
Kyle Busch smashes a guitar in victory lane!—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
The being’s power is broken into 16 shards, which are then spread out throughout many worlds by the conspirators, spreading many kinds of magic across the universe.—
Shyla Watson,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
-
Thursday night’s detonation of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket during a static-fire test produced a spectacular fireball over Florida, sending shards of the rocket flying far and wide, into the sea and across the coastal scrubland nearby.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What makes season 6 a top-tier installment is witnessing two power alliances (the Friendship and the Sovereign 6) going head-to-head and trading blows back-and-forth every single week.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
The fuel-saving engine start-stop system is also transparent, and the air conditioning blows ice cold, even when the gasoline engine is off.—
Michael Harley,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
But as the season neared the winter transfer window, the expectation was for Mainoo to leave on loan rather than continue to pick up splinters on the bench.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
The value of philosophy splinters when AI acts in unison with humans.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
After an epidemic devastates humanity, one group, the Traveling Symphony, connects disparate survivors by performing Shakespeare.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
20 May 2026
-
The fire devastates the area, burning down the couple's entire property.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
And then, when the World Cup rolls around, the base explodes.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
-
Video shows moment Blue Origin rocket explodes What is the New Glenn rocket?—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatters. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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