shatter 1 of 2

1
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

shatter

2 of 2

noun

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 shatter
Verb
My heart is shattered and every day that passes my sadness only deepens. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2025 Listen to this article San Diego County has shattered construction records over the past few years for apartments. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 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
  • The Palisades and Eaton fires burned more than 40,000 acres and destroyed at least 12,000 buildings.
    Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Many of the early hires were believed to be young tech engineers with little to no government experience, prompting criticism from Democrats and unions that critical government services and systems would be cut or destroyed.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Kamikaze sank their first ship on Oct. 25, 1944, when a navy Zero pilot smashed into the USS St. Lo in the Philippine Sea while carrying a pair of 550-pound bombs.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Raphinha gets the ball in space and smashes home from the edge of the box.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The design is classic and functional, and it’s made from a weather-resistant and UV-resistant material that won’t rot, splinter, chip, or peel.
    Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Anyone who has suffered the indignity of a splinter, a blister, or a paper cut knows that small things can sometimes be hugely annoying.
    Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Curtis left her job as a deputy in August 2023 and sued the county soon after, claiming in court documents that Anderson’s harassment ruined her reputation and career with the county.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The problem lies once kids become tech savvy and a simple Google search can ruin the fun.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The station shares a name with Spurs’ former home, which overlapped this site and was demolished as the modern structure, which opened in April 2019, was built.
    Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Though the interior of the building was demolished, the Art Deco facade was and is still considered a historical landmark and remains intact.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • During my own childhood, this crucial medical device was commonly available in only two forms: rectal, which involved a patient parent and a jar of Vaseline, and oral, which could only be used once your kid could be trusted not to bite down too hard and ingest glass shards and mercury.
    Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2025
  • For safety, clean up the shards now but spare yourself the emotional fallout.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • When Hurricane Milton ripped through Tampa Bay on October 9, less than two weeks had passed since Hurricane Helene struck the same area, and the region was devastated.
    Chad Jennings, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The 29-year-old hairstylist in New York had been cheated on before, an experience that left her devastated and heartbroken.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • What used to build brands now risks blowing them up.
    Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Miles Caton blew me away and Michael B. jordan is incredible.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatter. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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