shatter (B1)

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈʃætər/

Definition

To break suddenly and violently into many pieces.

Examples

• The impact caused the window to shatter.

• His dreams of a promotion were shattered by the news.

• The plate shattered when it hit the hard tile.

How to Use shatter

shatter into pieces (prepositional phrase)

To break into many small fragments. — "The mirror shattered into a thousand pieces."

shatter someone's hopes (collocation)

To completely destroy someone's expectations or desires. — "The bad news shattered her hopes for a quick recovery."

Synonyms of shatter

Words with a similar meaning to shatter:

• break
• smash
• shatter
• demolish

Antonyms of shatter

Words with the opposite meaning to shatter:

• mend
• restore

Browse the full Anaversity dictionary