shatters 1 of 2

Definition of shattersnext
present tense third-person singular of shatter
1
as in destroys
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 smashes
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

shatters

2 of 2

noun

plural of shatter

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 shatters
Verb
After a possible murder shatters shatters the lives of three women in a decades-long friendship, Imperfect Women kicks off into a high-octane thriller that is sure to keep us guessing until its final minute. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 4 Feb. 2026 Imperfect Women, created for television by Annie Weisman and based on Araminta Hall’s novel of the same name, examines a crime that shatters the lives of a decades-long friendship of three women. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026 As the vehicle pulls slowly away, Pretti kicks at the taillight and then delivers a second kick that shatters the red plastic and leaves the taillight dangling. Michael Biesecker, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026 This scene shatters that rhythm entirely, however, as Bishop explains his reasons rather than offering the clear, direct apology the men are seeking. Beandrea July, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026 Nothing goes wrong in Hulu's Paradise — until the illusion shatters. Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026 One agent opens the back-seat door as the car begins to move; another shatters her passenger-side window. Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026 The Bradford pear shatters easily at the trunk due to the branch angles, Zampini says. Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 16 Jan. 2026 The Creature is slowed, however, when gunfire shatters the ice around its feet, plunging it into the cold sea. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shatters
Verb
  • And God does and kills everybody and destroys everything.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
  • His stance joins a bipartisan chorus, including GOP leaders and Governor Shapiro, warning that inciting violence against Jewish neighbors destroys the path toward peace.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Mane challenges Will to a round of one-and-one and basically smashes him.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The bike then smashes into a metal barricade before coming to rest against a parked car.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • To make this mulch, crush broken terracotta pieces into smaller chunky shards and scatter them around snail and slug-vulnerable plants, including lettuces, hostas, or strawberries.
    Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Images in the aftermath of the attack showed bodies covered in blood lying on the floor of the mosque surrounded by shards of glass and debris.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
  • If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Seeking changes Like much of Connecticut, Brookfield already experiences poor air quality and particulate-matter pollution that blows into the state from the west.
    John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
  • And the spending rarely stops when the final whistle blows.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Jeff Clanagan painted a picture of a landscape in which movie stardom is no longer protected by traditional channels, as attention splinters across platforms and audiences fragment.
    Josh Rottenberg, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
  • The paper also prevents wear and tear on the wood surface and keeps small splinters from snagging delicate clothing.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Kyiv residents endure long daily blackouts as Russia devastates the power system, leaving tower block dwellers freezing in apartments with no heat or light.
    Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Exacerbating the problem, unpredictable rainfall cycling between drought and floods further devastates the region.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The primary issue is that as such a problem grows, the number of possible solutions explodes exponentially to the extent that even quantum computers and supercomputers struggle to keep up.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026
  • After debuting with minimal fanfare in November 2025, the provocative Canadian drama about rival hockey players whose passion explodes into lust (and eventually love) became a word-of-mouth sensation.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shatters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shatters. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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