shatter

[ shat-er ]

/ ˈʃæt ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shatter ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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

to damage, as by breaking or crushing: ships shattered by storms.

to impair or destroy (health, nerves, etc.): The incident shattered his composure.

to weaken, destroy, or refute (ideas, opinions, etc.): He wanted to shatter her illusions.

verb (used without object)

to be broken into fragments or become weak or insubstantial.

noun

Usually shatters. fragments made by shattering.

Nearby words

shastra, shastracara, shastri, shat, shatt-al-arab, shatter, shatter cone, shattered, shatterproof, shaun, shavano peak

Origin of shatter

1300–50; Middle English schateren < ?; cf. scatter

SYNONYMS FOR shatter

1 shiver, split, crack.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shatter ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

shat·ter·er, nounshat·ter·ing·ly, adverbnon·shat·ter, nounnon·shat·ter·ing, adjective

un·shat·tered, adjective

Synonym study

1. See break.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for shattered

Shattered by the verdict, I understood our country to be in a dismal state.
Maya Angelou Knew How To Inspire As A Writer, Teacher, and Great Human Being|Joshua DuBois|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Shattered completely, she crumbled toward the exit and disappeared.
The GOP’s Real Ted Nugent Problem|James Poulos|February 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There will be a lot of “This Is How We Live Now” and “Shattered Innocence” in the weeks to come.
We Can Do Well|Jon Favreau|April 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Shattered glass from a row of blown-out windows crunched beneath her feet.
Egypt's Church Bombing: Was Al Qaeda Responsible?|Liam Stack|January 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Shattered pieces of glass and yellow police tape surrounded the spot.
Hollywood Murder Stumps Detectives|Christine Pelisek|November 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Shattered and disorganized, their retreat to Corinth had but little order.
Camp-Fire and Cotton-Field|Thomas W. Knox
Shattered Poland's dissevered hand fell without warning upon their desks.
Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 6. Young Germany|Georg Brandes
"Shattered nerves—domestic anxiety," he whispered, confidentially.
Armadale|Wilkie Collins
Shattered and slowly sinking, the frigate drifted out to sea.
An Advanced English Grammar with Exercises|George Lyman Kittredge
Shattered here and cracked yonder, some missing, some overlapping in curves, the tiles have an aspect of irregular existence.
The Open Air|Richard Jefferies

British Dictionary definitions for shattered (1 of 2)

shattered

/ (ˈʃætɪd) /

adjective

broken into many small pieces

impaired or destroyed

dumbfounded or thoroughly upset

informal tired out or exhausted

British Dictionary definitions for shattered (2 of 2)

shatter

/ (ˈʃætə) /

verb

to break or be broken into many small pieces

(tr) to impair or destroyhis nerves were shattered by the torture

(tr) to dumbfound or thoroughly upsetshe was shattered by the news

(tr) informal to cause to be tired out or exhausted

an obsolete word for scatter

noun

(usually plural) obsolete, or dialect a fragment

Derived Forms

shatterer, nounshattering, adjectiveshatteringly, adverb

Word Origin for shatter

C12: perhaps obscurely related to scatter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012