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shatter Definition

shat·ter (s̸hatər)

transitive verb

  1. Obsolete to scatter; strew
  2. to break or burst into pieces suddenly, as with a blow
  3. to damage severely; destroy or wreck to shatter one's health

Etymology: ME schateren, var. of scateren, to scatter

intransitive verb

to break or burst into pieces; smash

noun

broken pieces: chiefly in in (or into) shatters

shatter Synonyms

shatter

v.

smash, shiver, fragment, destroy; see break 2, 3. See syn. study at break.

shatter Usage Examples

Object

  • illusion: The deep split over the war on Iraq shattered any illusions in a common position on really decisive foreign issues.
  • climax: The first hour may seem slow but it builds considerable tension until it reaches a shattering climax.
  • complacency: Planet of the Apes is a film that sets out to shatter complacency and arrogance.
  • myth: These changes help shatter the myth that legal jargon cannot be replaced with plain English without sacrificing legal meaning.
  • stereotype: Whether joyous or tragic some events have the ability to shatter stereotypes.
  • blow: It was a shattering blow to the local economy.

Subject

  • arrival: What peace there was in the Yorkshire Dales was shattered by the arrival of the Norman conquerors.
  • blow: Even tho diamond is very tough, it can be shattered by a hard blow, especially at an unlucky angle.

Preposition: into

  • shard: The glass shattered into a million tiny, shards on the floor.
  • fragment: The large basalt boulders were split up into sizes the knapper could handle by heating, and shattered into fragments with gun-like reports.
  • piece: In just 20 days their whole life was shattered into pieces.

Modifies a noun

  • proof: Many of the Halls Greenhouses offer a choice of horticultural, toughened glass or shatter proof polycarbonate.

Modifying Another Word

  • rudely: On the 2nd January my little fantasy world of perfect parenthood was rudely shattered.
  • emotionally: Other times, they just get off the rink and go home, emotionally shattered.
  • absolutely: On really bad days Mae would come home absolutely shattered.

Noun used with modifier

  • pod: In cereals, some seeds are gathered with the crop but many pods shatter and the seeds fall to the ground.
  • glass: And when she cries You hear her silent screams The glass shatters the Grip on her fantasy.

Used with why or when

  • when: Who cares if we are shattered when we get back?

Preposition: by

  • arrival: What peace there was in the Yorkshire Dales was shattered by the arrival of the Norman conquerors.
  • blow: Even tho diamond is very tough, it can be shattered by a hard blow, especially at an unlucky angle.

Browse dictionary entries near shatter

  1. Shatt-al-Arab
  2. shat
  3. Shasta daisy
  4. Shasta
  5. shashlik
  6. sharpshooter
  7. sharply
  8. sharpie
  9. sharper
  10. sharpen
  1. shatter cone
  2. shattered
  3. shatterproof
  4. shave
  5. shaveling
  6. shaven
  7. shaver
  8. shavetail
  9. Shavian
  10. shaving