shatters 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of shatter
1
as in destroys
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of tried to restore their shattered hopes

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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

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3

shatters

2 of 2

noun

plural of shatter

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 shatters
Noun
In a small town like Harding, a crime involving local children of local families shatters the relatively placid and usually numb routines of daily life. Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025 Continue reading … HEAT HISTORY – Padres flamethrower shatters MLB record with jaw-dropping pitch in playoff battle. FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Gunfire shatters windows at The Grand The fatal shooting in August was the latest incident amid ongoing crime problems there, the lawsuit says. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025 Most sitcoms that cast celebrities to play themselves go the Thompson route, crafting a character that completely shatters the person’s public image. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 Trump's action shatters this precedent, inviting chaos. Dan Irvine, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Researchers say communities like Bogalusa endure a collective trauma that shatters their sense of safety. Fred Clasen-Kelly, NPR, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatters
Verb
  • After a drone strike destroys her home, Alice, a graphic designer in her thirties, finds unexpected love with Vadym, a soldier briefly on leave.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Once in place, the device releases liquid nitrogen, reaching temperatures as low as –170°C to form an ice ball that destroys the tumor cells.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As Richard tries to kill Carrie, Sigrid shoots him in the shoulder and Lo smashes him in the face with a piece of boating equipment.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
  • As several women listen intently, Belushi, donning a toga, rips the guitar out of Bishop's hands and smashes it into a wall.
    Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Pilot injured, passengers rebooked Photos shared online appeared to show one of the pilots with minor bruises and cuts on his forearm, likely caused by flying glass shards.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
  • In addition to the fortress itself, a number of artifacts were also unearthed, including pottery shards adorned with bright colors.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • I'mPhaedra Trethan, debating whether put the heat on at my house as the season's first Nor'easter blows into Jersey.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There’s splinters on the floor.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The group splinters and each one pushes on, praying for another exit.
    Caitlin White, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The novel is about three teenagers experiencing the joy and angst of their senior year in a New York City high school as the AIDS crisis devastates their community.
    Abdi Nazemian, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Morrissey explodes the comparatively respectable conventions of prior Frankenstein adaptations by embracing the deranged erotic and fascist implications of building and breeding new life.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The post also included a video showing aerial footage of a fast-moving boat at sea that suddenly explodes.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatters. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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