1
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
tried to restore their shattered hopes
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of shatter
Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
One year ago, a massive explosion at a downtown Fort Worth hotel shattered the chilly afternoon calm just as the workday came to a close.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 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
Where people are getting information instead has shattered into dozens of ecosystems.
—Axios, 8 Jan. 2025
One year ago, a massive explosion at a downtown Fort Worth hotel shattered the chilly afternoon calm just as the workday came to a close.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 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
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To its credit, Doc is more adept at crafting moral dilemmas that force its characters to reckon with the cost of saving one child at the expense of another’s health, or a patient’s right to know a secret that could destroy his family.Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
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In 2023, nearly 40 were introduced to the council — from calling on the state legislature to let Louisville destroy confiscated firearms to requesting the city's Planning Commission review the Land Development Code.Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That was a record handle, smashing the previous year’s Super Bowl wagering in the state by $32 million.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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That smashed the government’s forecast of 6.5% growth for the year, as well as last year’s growth figure of 5.05%. Exports, driven by electronics, smartphones, and garments, grew 14.3% in 2024 to reach $405.5 billion, and that helped drive Vietnam’s growth.Alena Botros, Fortune Asia, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Sunlight filtered by grey barn slats falls like splinters of hay on my brother’s shirt.Mary Brancaccio, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
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In 1985, movies made for and about kids had a few more splinters.Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Well, Neptune and his Wildcats might just be ruining the convenient narrative.CJ Moore, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As Emily and Sean grow closer, the crew faces a challenge when a wealthy developer (who happens to be Emily's father), Bill Anderson (Peter Gallagher), plans to demolish their historic neighborhood and build luxury properties in their place.Travis Bean, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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Nelson plans to spend $20 million demolishing the office building and constructing infrastructure onsite, including two new traffic signals, nearly 1,000 trees, and bike and pedestrian pathways.Matthew Geiger, The Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The pals, played by Hacks’ Megan Stalter and actor Owen Thiele, quickly begin to suspect that this guy is in fact Santa Claus, especially when Astin asks for a warm glass of milk and an oversized chocolate chip cookie dusted lightly with candy cane shards.Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
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Using a mixture of wet stone and urushi sap, kintsugi artists can fill in chips, but not giant shards, explained Satoko.Maria Yagoda, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Advertisement Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle, eventually costing more than 20,000 lives by some estimates.Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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Extremes getting more extreme 2024 also saw a number of life-threatening disasters, from Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of North Carolina and Florida, to powerful heat waves across the U.S.Lauren Sommer, NPR, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Gardner-Johnson’s play redeemed his ejection after two unsportsmanlike penalties last week when the Eagles blew a two-score lead to the Washington Commanders.Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
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Milk, the drink of choice for an adult about to just absolutely blow someone’s back out.Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near shatter
Cite this Entry
“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatter. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.
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