shatter

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.