SHATTER Synonyms: 221 Similar and Opposite Words

shatter 1 of 2

verb

ˈsha-tər

Definition of shatter

as in to destroy

to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of tried to restore their shattered hopes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to smash

to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive shattered the sealed clay pot to find out what was inside

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to demolish

to cause to break with violence and much noise shattered the priceless vase in one clumsy fall

Synonyms & Similar Words

shatter

2 of 2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shatter

Verb

Iraq was invaded, the lives of ordinary Iraqis were shattered, and no weapons were ever found. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 But recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s oil refineries have led to widespread fuel shortages, shattering the illusion that the consequences of the conflict are far removed from ordinary Russians. — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

They’re also made with shatter-resistant glass and nest together to save valuable cabinet space. — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 July 2026 The laminate reinforces the glass to create a shatter-resistant barrier, preventing shards of glass from flying out during extreme weather. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shatter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatter

Verb

Noguchi, Nakashima, and Amino were adults on February 19, 1942, when President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which forced Japanese American families to quickly abandon or destroy their property and board trains to the holding centers.

— Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Refineries in Russia have been destroyed or damaged by drone attacks.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of destroy

Verb

But of the leaders of those three mega-bands, perhaps the most mysterious remains Pete Townshend, The Who’s songwriter and enigmatic eminence, thrashing chords and smashing guitars while Roger Daltrey handled lead vocals.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2026
Breakfast and lunch staples including omelets, pancakes, French toast, smashed pot potatoes, hamburger steak, beef tips, pork chops and chicken and dumplings are returning to the menu, along with a few new items.

— Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of smash

Noun

From there, Bono and McDaid did a rewrite of the lyrics to make it about a mother watching her family splinter, and, the magazine says, Parton agreed to sing the new Bono/McDaid version of her tune.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Pushing those briars aside revealed a single splinter of stained glass, bright as a ruby and warm as blood.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of splinter

Verb

On Monday, workers hauled out a 200-pound piece of equipment that was ruined by the saltwater and sand carried in on the high tides.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
So our goal is to learn how to maximize AI budgets, not ration them and ruin productivity gains.

— Konstantin Klyagin, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

And then the way the government dealt with them, which was to just demolish them, is also kind of prescient.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attended the demolition and said Israeli authorities had demolished more than 10,000 structures built without permits over the past year and a half.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of demolish

Noun

Students sitting with arms linked at the elbows could only see in shards through a picket of shin guards, restricting their view of the area where classmates and roommates were dragged one by one and zip-tied face down on the spring grass.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Windows had been boarded up to avoid glass shards hurting anyone in case of an explosion.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of shard

Verb

Pi-o wins the competition, but is devastated at the disappearance of his friend.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
The goal, Ukrainian officials and military experts say, is to devastate Ukraine’s economy — and the country’s ability to sustain the war effort — while breaking the population’s will to fight by making everyday life increasingly difficult.

— Constant Méheut, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of devastate

Browse Nearby Words

sharp-witted

shatter

shattered

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Style

“Shatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatter. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shatter

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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