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. See scatter
   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

The total Union loss was 16,179 men, a number about equal to the army led by Shatter against Santiago.

From Project Gutenberg

Between two roaring worlds where they swirl, I. Shatter them, one and both.

From Project Gutenberg

But the captain of the Shatter will certainly not reveal it as long as he lives.

From Project Gutenberg

On both sides of the bow flaunted in large lettering the name Shatter II.

From Project Gutenberg

The crew of the Shatter had apparently forgotten that they could support their demand with force of arms.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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