1
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
tried to restore their shattered hopes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in to demolish
to cause to break with violence and much noise
shattered the priceless vase in one clumsy fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in splinter
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
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
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
Noun
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
Verb
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Their job was to destroy the Amazon to make room for raising cattle.—
Terrence McCoy The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
31 Aug. 2025
-
If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The woman then allegedly hit the driver’s car with a tire iron, smashed her windows, and threw a brick at her car.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
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Each form usually comes with a unique ability that can be used to traverse areas, clear obstacles, and enhance gameplay in some way such as swimming better in her mermaid form, crawling up webs as a spider, or smashing boulders as an elephant.—
David Jagneaux,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Verb
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Her Altadena home and the surrounding community were ruined by the Eaton wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles in January.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
14 Aug. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In 2018, the Cat 5 destroyed or demolished 484 buildings at the Panhandle’s Tyndall Air Force Base beyond repair.—
Denise Hruby,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
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The Omni previously sought to demolish the building in 2019, setting off a years-long back-and-forth in local government and the courts over the fate of the structure.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Verb
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For a local New Orleans community, trends like this reflect two decades of regrowth after Hurricane Katrina devastated our city.—
Katy Reckdahl,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
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Families devastated as disturbing details emerge about shooter 2.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When the plot’s pressure valve finally appears ready to blow, Lurker pivots for an intriguing third-act switch-up.—
Eric Torres,
Pitchfork,
27 Aug. 2025
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As the Turkish central bank slashed interest rates at Erdogan’s behest, the Turkish lira crashed and inflation blew past 80%.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatter. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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