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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shatter
Nora Colomer, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025
The film shattered box office expectations for its genre at the time and was considered a significant milestone for representation in Hollywood — proving that audiences were hungry to see stories about women of color.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Sep. 2024
Just as the timer runs out, the windows on the house shatter and the oven door clangs open.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shatter
Verb
One of the teens, Elwood Curtis, sees his dreams of attending college shattered when he is sentenced to Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory in the Jim Crow South.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025
The film shattered box office expectations for its genre at the time and was considered a significant milestone for representation in Hollywood — proving that audiences were hungry to see stories about women of color.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
Lamps shatter, biting and choking ensues, and by the time the 28 minutes are done, mayhem — literal and emotional — spills out from every corner.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Sep. 2024
Just as the timer runs out, the windows on the house shatter and the oven door clangs open.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatter
Verb
-
Prominent right-wing Israeli politicians called to destroy Israel's enemies in response.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Baldoni countersued, accusing Lively, Reynolds and Sloane of seeking to destroy his career.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Two Riverside officers have been charged after one smashed a resident’s skateboard in a viral video.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2025
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The robber smashes various display cases and loads jewelry into his backpack before running back to the car.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Raw edges add to the appeal but may cause splinters when handling.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2025
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Be sure to include tweezers for removing splinters or ticks, gauze for bleeding, antibiotic ointment, blister treatment, children’s pain reliever and antihistamine, antiseptic wipes, and lots of bandages.—
Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan,
Outside Online,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sometimes, one bad person or a few bad people can ruin things for everybody.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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The floods were also a disaster for businesses that lost valuable stock, like a local bookstore which saw $25,000 worth of books ruined, the BBC reported.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Many have long since been demolished or altered beyond recognition, but some of the most beautiful have miraculously kept their original structures and decoration intact.—
The New York Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
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Some residential buildings have been demolished; a hole is punched into the side of a mosque; chunks of broken concrete now bare the inside of someone’s home to the outside world.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Work carefully: Start by removing larger pieces, then vacuum or sweep up small shards.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2025
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During an impassioned monologue about pharmaceutical industry subsidies, Stewart slammed a coffee mug down on his desk and shattered it, still holding several shards in his palm amid the wreckage.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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When wildfires devastated Los Angeles earlier this year, Bobbie provided formula for families who lost their homes.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
20 Feb. 2025
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But with the ceremony taking place at the Pasadena Civic Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, just six weeks after Los Angeles was devastated by a series of wildfires, the celebration takes on a new tenor.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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However, buying everything new for your space can get costly and can easily blow your budget.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2025
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Courtenay Brown Feb 14, 2025 - Economy Trump trade plan intensifies The Trump trade war has blown past the realm of tariffs.—
Courtenay Brown,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatter. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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