shatter
Americanverb (used with object)
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to break (something) into pieces, as by a blow.
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to damage, as by breaking or crushing.
ships shattered by storms.
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to impair or destroy (health, nerves, etc.).
The incident shattered his composure.
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to weaken, destroy, or refute (ideas, opinions, etc.).
He wanted to shatter her illusions.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
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to break or be broken into many small pieces
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(tr) to impair or destroy
his nerves were shattered by the torture
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(tr) to dumbfound or thoroughly upset
she was shattered by the news
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informal (tr) to cause to be tired out or exhausted
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an obsolete word for scatter
noun
Synonym Usage
See break.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonshatternoun
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shatterernoun
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nonshatteringadjective
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shatteringadjective
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unshatteredadjective
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shatteringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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shattersimple
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shatterssimple
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have shatteredperfect
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has shatteredperfect
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am shatteringprogressive
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are shatteringprogressive
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is shatteringprogressive
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have been shatteringperfect progressive
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has been shatteringperfect progressive
Past
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shatteredsimple
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had shatteredperfect
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was shatteringprogressive
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were shatteringprogressive
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had been shatteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of shatter
1300–50; Middle English schateren < ?; cf. scatter
Explanation
When you shatter something, you smash it or break it into small bits. If your sister hits a baseball directly into the kitchen window, the window will shatter — and your sister will be in big trouble. When you drop something fragile, it will probably shatter—lightbulbs, teacups, mirrors, and windows all shatter fairly easily. Things can also shatter in a less literal way, when it just feels like they're breaking apart violently. If your best friend ignores you all day, your heart shatters; and if you stumble and fall on your way up to a podium to give a speech, your confidence may shatter.
Vocabulary lists containing shatter
Lesson 11
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Towers Falling
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Blasted to Smithereens: Synonyms for "Break"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After 50, it can completely shatter your finances.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
The offering could take place as soon as June 12, and would shatter the $25.6 billion fundraising record for an IPO, held until now by Gulf giant Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's national oil company.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
“Michael” went on to shatter box-office records for biopics, raking in almost $220 million worldwide during its first opening weekend.
From Salon • May 14, 2026
But only one could be worn by the first person to shatter the 2-hour barrier.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
The glass doors at the drugstore shatter completely.
From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
