Shatter

Full Definition of SHATTER

transitive verb

1

: to cause to drop or be dispersed

2

a : to break at once into pieces

b : to damage badly : ruin

3

: to cause the disruption or annihilation of : demolish

intransitive verb

1

: to break apart : disintegrate

2

: to drop off parts (as leaves, petals, or fruit)

— shat·ter·ing·ly \-tə-riŋ-lē\ adverb

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Origin of SHATTER

Middle English schateren — more at scatter

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SHATTER

Synonyms: annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, extinguish, nuke, pull down, pulverize, raze, rub out, ruin, destroy, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck

Antonyms: build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Rhymes with SHATTER

attar, batter, blatter, chatter, clatter, flatter, hatter, latter, matter, natter, patter, plaiter, platter, ratter, scatter, smatter, spatter, splatter, tatter

Definition of SHATTER

1

: fragment, shred —usually used in plural <the broken vase lay in shatters>

2

: an act of shattering : the state of being shattered

3

: a result of shattering : shower

First Known Use of SHATTER

circa 1640

Rhymes with SHATTER

batter, chatter, clatter, flatter, matter, natter, patter, plaiter, scatter, smatter, spatter, splatter, tatter

Definition of SHATTER for Kids

1

: to break or fall to pieces <The window shattered.>

2

: to destroy or damage badly <The news shattered our hopes.>

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "shatter"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "shatter"

Nglish: Translation of "shatter" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "shatter" for Arabic speakers

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¹shatter

Full Definition of SHATTER

Origin of SHATTER

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Rhymes with SHATTER

²shatter

Definition of SHATTER

First Known Use of SHATTER

Rhymes with SHATTER

Definition of SHATTER for Kids

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1shatter

Full Definition of SHATTER

Origin of SHATTER

Related to SHATTER

Rhymes with SHATTER

2shatter

Definition of SHATTER

First Known Use of SHATTER

Rhymes with SHATTER

shatter

Definition of SHATTER for Kids

Learn More About SHATTER

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¹shatter

²shatter