Shatter

/ˈʃætər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a breaking or being broken into pieces.

We heard the shatter of glass as the window broke.

verb

to break suddenly into many small pieces.

The vase shatter when it fell off the shelf.

to damage something severely.

The news of the accident shattered her hopes for a peaceful evening.

to cause someone to feel great emotional pain.

The betrayal from her best friend shattered her trust in others.

Middle English *shatters*, from Old English *sceat*.

shatter someone's dreams

to destroy someone's hopes or ambitions.

shatter the silence

to break a period of quiet with noise.

shatter one's confidence

to severely damage someone's self-assurance.

fragment

a small part broken off or detached.

explode

to burst or shatter violently.

break

to separate into pieces suddenly or violently.

to experience a mental or emotional breakdown.

After the breakup, she really felt like she was about to shatter.

to fail dramatically or suddenly.

The plans for the trip shattered when they ran out of money.