smithereens

[ smith-uh-reenz ]

plural noun

1. small pieces; bits:

   broken into smithereens.

smithereens

/ ˌsmɪðəˈriːnz /

plural noun

1. little shattered pieces or fragments

Word History and Origins

Origin of smithereens¹

1820–30; dial. smithers (< ?) + Hiberno-English -een diminutive suffix (< Irish -ín )

Word History and Origins

Origin of smithereens¹

C19: from Irish Gaelic smidirīn, from smiodar

Example Sentences

We do, however, recognize something new and important, and we need to trust it, not blast it to smithereens, leaving us more shaken than stirred.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s all shot to smithereens.

From Slate

A party pulverised to smithereens after its years in coalition with the Conservatives is back and back big time - and they can’t quite believe it.

From BBC

Does she think it’s more necessary to keep the Democratic coalition fired up heading into the convention and beyond, or to signal to swing voters that she’s ready to smash some shale rock to smithereens and huff up its delectable hydrocarbons?

From Slate

“Windows were shattered to smithereens,” reported a Serbian doctor, “and broken glass covered many floors. Patients started screaming. Some got out of their beds, pale and bewildered. Then there was another explosion, and another one, and then silence again. So, it was true! The war had started.”

From Literature