shatter

[ shat-er ]

verb (used with object)

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

   Synonyms: crack, split, shiver

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

/ ˈʃætə /

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

noun

1. obsolete.
   usually plural a fragment

Derived Forms

• ˈshatteringly, adverb
• ˈshattering, adjective
• ˈshatterer, noun

Other Words From

• shatter·er noun
• shatter·ing·ly adverb
• non·shatter noun
• non·shatter·ing adjective
• un·shattered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shatter¹

1300–50; Middle English schateren < ?; scatter

Word History and Origins

Origin of shatter¹

C12: perhaps obscurely related to scatter

Synonym Study

See break.

Example Sentences

It breaks the movie out of the conceit of it actually being a live show, and suddenly you shatter the fourth wall.

From Los Angeles Times

The mass deportations would wrench apart families and shatter the lives of millions of people who possibly spent years or decades establishing themselves, their families and their communities in the country, critics warn.

From Salon

Another Trump term will damage the climate, shatter alliances, and strengthen autocrats.

From Salon

Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, fulfilling his promise to shatter America’s political status quo after he refused to accept his loss to President Biden four years ago and inspired a mob of supporters to violently storm the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than triggering nationwide marches and relaunching the self-appointed “resistance,” a Trump victory could instead shatter the resolve of his adversaries.

From Slate

Related Words

• blast
• burst
• crack
• crush
• dash
• demolish
• destroy
• disable
• exhaust
• explode
• fracture
• impair
• ruin
• smash
• smash up
• snap
• splinter
• split
• wreck