shatter

1 of 2

verb

shat·​ter ˈsha-tər 

shattered; shattering; shatters

transitive verb

1

: to cause to drop or be dispersed

2

a

: to break at once into pieces

b

: to damage badly : ruin

3

: to cause the disruption or annihilation of : demolish

intransitive verb

1

: to break apart : disintegrate

2

: to drop off parts (such as leaves, petals, or fruit)

shatteringly

ˈsha-tə-riŋ-lē 

adverb

shatter

2 of 2

noun

1

: fragment, shred

—usually used in plural

the broken vase lay in shatters

2

: an act of shattering : the state of being shattered

3

: a result of shattering : shower

Synonyms

Verb

• annihilate
• cream
• decimate
• demolish
• desolate
• destroy
• devastate
• do in
• extinguish
• nuke
• pull down
• pulverize
• raze
• rub out
• ruin
• smash
• tear down
• total
• vaporize
• waste
• wrack
• wreck

Examples of shatter in a Sentence

Verb

The rock shattered the window.

His dreams were shattered by their rejection.

The end of his marriage shattered him emotionally.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

His family confirmed his identity in a GoFundMe fundraiser, which has so far raised upwards of $35,000 to support his family, shattering its $5,000 goal. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025

Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza on March 18, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. —Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025

Noun

The vibe shifts when a glass shatters and traps around the garden come to light, leading to a brutal string of events. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025

Baby Freddy rips his way out, shrieking so loud the windows shatter. —Michael Lee Simpson, EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English schateren — more at scatter

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shatter

• shatter cone

Rhymes for shatter

• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter
• matter
• natter

Kids Definition

shatter

verb

shat·​ter

ˈshat-ər

1

: to break or fall to pieces

the window shattered

2

: to damage badly : ruin, wreck

the bad news will shatter their morale