shatter
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.
to be broken into fragments or become weak or insubstantial.
Usually shatters. fragments made by shattering.
Origin of shatter
1synonym study For shatter
Other words for shatter
Other words from shatter
- shat·ter·er, noun
- shat·ter·ing·ly, adverb
- non·shat·ter, noun
- non·shat·ter·ing, adjective
- un·shat·tered, adjective
Words Nearby shatter
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use shatter in a sentence
The total Union loss was 16,179 men, a number about equal to the army led by shatter against Santiago.
The Colored Regulars in the United States Army | T. G. StewardBetween two roaring worlds where they swirl, I. shatter them, one and both.
Ulysses | James JoyceBut the captain of the shatter will certainly not reveal it as long as he lives.
Gun running for Casement in the Easter rebellion, 1916 | Karl SpindlerOn both sides of the bow flaunted in large lettering the name shatter II.
Gun running for Casement in the Easter rebellion, 1916 | Karl SpindlerThe crew of the shatter had apparently forgotten that they could support their demand with force of arms.
Gun running for Casement in the Easter rebellion, 1916 | Karl Spindler
British Dictionary definitions for shatter
/ (ˈʃætə) /
to break or be broken into many small pieces
(tr) to impair or destroy: his nerves were shattered by the torture
(tr) to dumbfound or thoroughly upset: she was shattered by the news
(tr) informal to cause to be tired out or exhausted
an obsolete word for scatter
(usually plural) obsolete, or dialect a fragment
Origin of shatter
1Derived forms of shatter
- shatterer, noun
- shattering, adjective
- shatteringly, adverb
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
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