1
as in destroying
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 smashing
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 demolishing
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 shattering
Advertisement The past few years have seen record-shattering global sea surface temperatures, which helps strengthen storms.
—
Simmone Shah, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Viewers are dropped into the aftermath of an unnamed personal conflict and must work out over the course of the runtime the stakes of the situation, a highwire act handled deftly by the actors whose tender performances provide the emotional impact of the film’s shattering final sequence.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
The earth-shattering events of the first trilogy have been all but forgotten, and the Magisterium looms as large as ever.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
The first of the live-action adaptations arrived in November 2024, shattering box-office records.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
The latter outlet, an NBC affiliate, reported that two bullets came through the window of his bedroom, shattering it in the process.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Cue the nerve-shattering tension aaaaand… enjoy!
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
From the initial concept through to the implementation of Battlefield Labs and into the record-shattering Open Beta we have been obsessed with player feedback.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Two men left and fired at the restaurant from the outside, shattering windows and striking two teenagers, who police said suffered minor injuries.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
Simmone Shah, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Viewers are dropped into the aftermath of an unnamed personal conflict and must work out over the course of the runtime the stakes of the situation, a highwire act handled deftly by the actors whose tender performances provide the emotional impact of the film’s shattering final sequence.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
The earth-shattering events of the first trilogy have been all but forgotten, and the Magisterium looms as large as ever.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
The first of the live-action adaptations arrived in November 2024, shattering box-office records.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
The latter outlet, an NBC affiliate, reported that two bullets came through the window of his bedroom, shattering it in the process.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Cue the nerve-shattering tension aaaaand… enjoy!
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
From the initial concept through to the implementation of Battlefield Labs and into the record-shattering Open Beta we have been obsessed with player feedback.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Two men left and fired at the restaurant from the outside, shattering windows and striking two teenagers, who police said suffered minor injuries.
—Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shattering
Verb
-
Overdevelopment destroying our communities.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Unless this is another ploy by women who are intent on destroying each other.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While some were able to escape by smashing windows and jumping out of the vehicle, which was carrying 44 passengers, others were fatally burned, the officer said.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Once the Germans invaded their Soviet ally on June 22, 1941, smashing one division after another, the Soviets had to fight for their survival, and all thought of nuclear research was abandoned.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Chiefs have seen some of league’s premier running backs — such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs — and have met each challenge, preventing those elite players from ruining the defensive game plan.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Clark reiterated his belief that the Dodgers are not ruining baseball.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The White House has required at least some of the construction workers tasked with demolishing the East Wing to sign nondisclosure agreements barring them from discussing their work, according to sources familiar with the project.—
Dr. Mark Abdelmalek,
ABC News,
30 Oct. 2025
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Just last week, the Facchino Family began demolishing structures at its 13-acre property at 1655 Berryessa Road before construction commences on a new mixed-income neighborhood near the BART Station.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That changed after Inter’s devastating 5–0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final — the worst defeat in the competition’s history.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Sol Price had relinquished his official leadership role, and Robert’s fifteen-year-old son had recently died of cancer, devastating the family.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That team pulled off this same trick, blowing the doors off all comers until slipping past USC.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The space was stifling in the Louisiana heat, so fans were blowing for everyone inside.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Storm preparations Cuba has been struck almost yearly by a major hurricane in recent years, sometimes twice, wrecking the country’s already decrepit infrastructure, damaging crops and destroying thousands of homes in precarious condition.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
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That history came to an end after wrecking crews tore down the wing’s two stories of offices and reception rooms last week.—
Darlene Superville,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The neoliberal revolution, driven by former President Ronald Reagan in the United States and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom, expanded capital markets enough to create whole new industries out of manipulating financial instruments; thus, exploding the finance industry.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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With satellites orbiting the Earth exploding into tens of thousands of pieces, the danger of collisions with space debris is a major problem, so Atomic-6 has developed new Space Armor tiles that are lighter and more effective than current systems.—
David Szondy
October 26,
New Atlas,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shattering. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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