shattering

present participle of shatter
1
as in destroying
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of tried to restore their shattered hopes

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2
as in smashing
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

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3

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 shattering SpaceX’s record-shattering IPO has minted thousands of new millionaires, unleashing a wave of high-end home shoppers poised to reshape Southern California’s already tight coastal housing markets. Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The record-shattering heat waves in Europe last week and in the western US in March are two recent examples. Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 The owners had taped giant Xs across the windows to stop the regular explosions from shattering them. Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 27 June 2026 The series ran for three seasons between 2000 and 2001, shattering television conventions and quickly becoming a cult favorite. Sezin Devi Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026 But in the second half, the team gave them more reason to cheer with two quick-fire goals, prompting ear-shattering noise, waterfalls of beer and a few smoke bombs. Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026 The subwoofer itself sports an eight-inch dual active driver that pumps out bone-shattering bass, and when paired with Dolby Atmos 3D support, the spatial audio sounds utterly unreal. George Yang, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026 The brand was already the most searched name on Ulta’s site before the line expanded to the retailer’s 1,500-plus doors in February, shattering sales records and becoming the chain’s largest brand launch ever. Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026 Ratings from the opening match went through the roof, shattering records. Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shattering
Verb
  • Mexican fruit flies are one of the world’s most destructive pests when laying their eggs, destroying or damaging fruit such as apples, grapefruits, avocados, peaches and pears, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
    Kori McNair, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • But Blue Origin suffered a major setback in May when one of its New Glenn rockets abruptly exploded on the launchpad, destroying vital infrastructure that will take months to rebuild.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Powell is accused of smashing the mug over the victim's head.
    Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • France saw around 1,000 additional deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, the country's public health agency said Sunday, as the head of the World Health Organization warned that Europe is now the fastest-warming continent and needs to do more to protect its citizens.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • After all, plenty of cocktail enthusiasts already complain about mosquitoes ruining a summer evening.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The company was saving a few bucks but ruining its product.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Digital Realty already began demolishing the inside of the building, so Gray believed the agreement was set.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2026
  • But everyday people expressed their political outrage time and again, throwing rocks at and demolishing the houses of government officials, torching the king’s ships and forts and, eventually, marching to battle.
    Robert Parkinson, The Conversation, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • The co-writer thing was a total disaster, devastating on every level.
    Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • One week after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, relief efforts in South Florida continue at a steady pace.
    Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Technically, officials said, blowing past the deadline means Alameda County is no longer in exclusive negotiations with the Oakland Acquisition Company.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • But rather than cede ground to an outsider, the town's residents plant TNT in every single structure, blowing them up before Lassiter can get his hands on them.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • The blaze remained confined to the wrecking yard property, despite briefly jumping a fence and igniting vegetation to the west.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
  • The good news is that dermatologists and makeup artists have figured out how to keep your SPF topped up without wrecking your foundation, blush or setting spray.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Flashes from exploding drones and missiles lit up the night, and loud booms echoed through Kyiv.
    Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • As SkyCal flew towards Huntington Park, dozens of rounds of fireworks were seen exploding over parts of Los Angeles, just minutes after the whistles blew in Estadio Azteca, surpassing the Round of 32 for the first time since 2018.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shattering. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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