verb
shatter
SHA-tuh
verb
1
To break suddenly and violently into many pieces.
"The glass shattered when it hit the floor."
"The windshield shattered on impact."
2
To destroy or crush something such as hope, confidence, or a plan.
"The injury shattered his dream of playing professionally."
noun
1
A fragment of something that has shattered.
"Shatters of glass covered the pavement."
How to Use Shatter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo break violently into pieces, or to completely destroy something abstract like hope or confidence.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
shatter glass
shatter dreams
shatter into pieces
shatter confidence
Word Forms
shattered past tense, shatters plural, shatters singular
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Etymology
From Middle English schateren, "to scatter, dash," related to scatter; both likely trace back to an imitative Germanic root suggesting a sudden smashing sound.