shattering

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: smashing

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. the act of breaking something into small piecesSynonyms: smashing

Adjective (1)

  1. seemingly loud enough to break something; violently rattling or clattering“shattering rain striking the windowpanes”“the shattering tones of the enormous carillon”“the shattering peal of artillery”
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Shatter \Shat"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Shattering.] [OE. schateren, scateren, to scatter, to dash, AS. scateran; cf. D. schateren to crack, to make a great noise, OD. schetteren to scatter, to burst, to crack. Cf. Scatter.]

1.To break at once into many pieces; to dash, burst, or part violently into fragments; to rend into splinters; as, an explosion shatters a rock or a bomb; too much steam shatters a boiler; an oak is shattered by lightning. [1913 Webster]

A monarchy was shattered to pieces, and divided amongst revolted subjects.— Locke.[1913 Webster]

2.To disorder; to derange; to render unsound; as, to be shattered in intellect; his constitution was shattered; his hopes were shattered. [1913 Webster]

A man of a loose, volatile, and shattered humor.— Norris.[1913 Webster]

3.To scatter about. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
Advertisement