Advertisement

View synonyms for

shatter

[ shat-er ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to break (something) into pieces, as by a blow.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. to damage, as by breaking or crushing:

    ships shattered by storms.

  3. to impair or destroy (health, nerves, etc.):

    The incident shattered his composure.

  4. to weaken, destroy, or refute (ideas, opinions, etc.):

    He wanted to shatter her illusions.



verb (used without object)

  1. to be broken into fragments or become weak or insubstantial.

noun

  1. Usually shatters. fragments made by shattering.

shatter

/ ˈʃæə /

verb

  1. to break or be broken into many small pieces
  2. tr to impair or destroy

    his nerves were shattered by the torture

  3. tr to dumbfound or thoroughly upset

    she was shattered by the news

  4. informal.
    tr to cause to be tired out or exhausted
  5. an obsolete word for scatter
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. obsolete.
    usually plural a fragment
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈ󲹳ٳٱԲ, adverb
  • ˈ󲹳ٳٱԲ, adjective
  • ˈ󲹳ٳٱ, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • 󲹳t· noun
  • 󲹳t·Բ· adverb
  • ԴDz·󲹳t noun
  • ԴDz·󲹳t·ing adjective
  • ܲ·󲹳t adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of shatter1

1300–50; Middle English schateren < ?; scatter
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of shatter1

C12: perhaps obscurely related to scatter
Discover More

Synonym Study

See break.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The day Witkoff flew to Moscow, on the edge of the city, peace was shattered.

From

Canadians have shattered early vote records, with more than 7m people casting their ballots so far.

From

Al-Natour spoke to us from the shattered remains of his city, the flimsy canvas side of the tent which now forms part of his house billowing behind him.

From

The attack was one of the deadliest in recent years in the troubled region, and it has shattered the lives of many.

From

Lorraine Baker, who runs the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary, says racing dogs are at risk of shattered legs and broken necks.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Shatt-al-Arabshatter cone