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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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ󲹳ٳٱԲ, adverb
  • ˈ󲹳ٳٱԲ, adjective
  • ˈ󲹳ٳٱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • 󲹳t· noun
  • 󲹳t·Բ· adverb
  • ԴDz·󲹳t noun
  • ԴDz·󲹳t·ing adjective
  • ܲ·󲹳t adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shatter1

1300–50; Middle English schateren < ?; scatter
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Word History and Origins

Origin of shatter1

C12: perhaps obscurely related to scatter
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Synonym Study

See break.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

She heard glass shattering which was the defendant breaking the downstairs window, the prosecutor said.

From

But last week's attacks have, yet again, shattered any idea of lasting peace in the restive valley.

From

They found it abandoned, with buildings shattered from drawn-out fighting.

From

Now, when museum officials made an inspection visit, they were greeted with shattered glass, bullet cases on the floor and traces of looting everywhere.

From

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

From

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Shatt-al-Arabshatter cone