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shatter

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈʃætər/ · UK /ˈʃætə/

Forms: shattering, shattered

shatter means: To break suddenly into many small pieces, or make something break this way.

verb

BREAK INTO PIECESB2

To break suddenly into many small pieces, or make something break this way.

  • The glass shattered on the floor.
  • A stone shattered the window.
  • The frozen lake’s thin ice began to shatter.

How to use it: shatter into something (The plate shattered into tiny pieces.)

Similar words: smash, break

Common phrases: shatter a window, shatter into pieces

DESTROY EMOTIONALLYC1

To make someone feel deeply upset or destroy their hope, confidence, or happiness.

  • The news shattered her.
  • Repeated failures shattered his confidence.
  • Their defeat shattered the team’s hopes of reaching the final.

Similar words: devastate, crush

Common phrases: shatter someone’s confidence, shatter someone’s hopes, shatter someone

Questions about shatter

What does shatter mean?

To break suddenly into many small pieces, or make something break this way.

What is shatter in other languages?

Türkçe: paramparça olmak · Español: hacerse añicos · Français: voler en éclats · Deutsch: zersplittern · Italiano: frantumarsi · 日本語: 粉々になる

How do you pronounce shatter?

In American English /ˈʃætər/; in British English /ˈʃætə/.

How do you use shatter in a sentence?

The glass shattered on the floor. A stone shattered the window.

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shatter in other languages

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