shatter
To shatter something means to break or smash it into pieces. This can happen to objects like glassware, windows, or even relationships.
When you use the word "shatter" in everyday language, you'll often hear it when someone describes an unexpected and sudden event that causes something to break apart completely. For example, you might say, "I was so surprised by the news – it really shattered my confidence." Here, the word "shatter" isn't just about physical objects, but also about how the person's feeling of security or stability has been broken. You can also shatter a record, which means to break the previous best time in an event like a race. In this case, "shatter" implies achieving something incredible and impressive.
How common is "shatter"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
A fragment of anything shattered.
Example: to break a glass into shatters
verb
To violently break something into pieces.
Example: The miners used dynamite to shatter rocks.
Real examples of "shatters" in context
