Shattered
/ˈʃætərd/
adjectiveverbB2past tense, past participle
Definition
Shattered means something is broken into many small parts or is completely damaged. It can also mean a person feels very tired, shocked, or emotionally hurt. This word is often used to show a strong or total break, not just a small crack.
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See It in Action
Physically broken into many pieces
- •The window was shattered by the strong wind.
- •She dropped the vase, and it shattered on the floor.
- •The car's windshield was shattered in the accident.
Emotionally or physically exhausted or upset
- •After the long journey, he felt completely shattered.
- •She was shattered by the news of her friend’s illness.
- •The team was shattered after losing the important game.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "shattered" like "broken," but much stronger—like glass falling and breaking into many tiny pieces
- ✓Picture a glass dropped on the floor, breaking loudly into many sharp pieces everywhere
- ✓It's the feeling when you are very tired after a long day or very sad after bad news
- ✓Sounds like "SHAT-tered" → imagine something being hit hard and breaking with a sharp "shat" sound
- ✓Remember movies where a mirror breaks into many pieces after a big hit—this is shattered
- ✓NOT like "cracked" (only a small line or break), shattered means complete breaking into many parts
- ✓NOT like "damaged" (can be small harm), shattered means total destruction or extreme emotional pain
- ✓As a feeling, NOT like "sad" (mild emotion), shattered means deep shock or exhaustion
Try Other Words
- •Broken: physically damaged or not whole (Use when the damage is less extreme or fewer pieces)
- •Destroyed: completely ruined or damaged (Use when something is no longer usable at all)
- •Devastated: emotionally very upset or shocked (Use when talking about strong feelings, not physical objects)
- •Exhausted: very tired (Use when talking about physical or mental tiredness)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "shatter" + suffix "-ed" (past tense/past participle form)
- •Etymology: From Old English "sceat" meaning fragment or piece, related to breaking
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe breaking into pieces; later also used for emotional states
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for physical breaking and emotional exhaustion or shock
- •Key insight: Shows total breaking, not just small damage; can describe objects or feelings
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be shattered but still useful? When might that happen?
•How do you think the feeling of being shattered compares to just being tired or sad?
Fill in the blanks
1.The glass shattered ___ the floor when it slipped from her hands.
2.After the accident, he was emotionally shattered and could not ___.
3.Unlike a small crack, shattered means the object broke into many ___.
4.She felt shattered ___ losing her job and needed time to recover.
5.The window was shattered ___ a strong storm last night.
6.When people say they are shattered, they often mean they are very ___ or shocked.
7.The vase did not just break; it shattered into ___ pieces all over the room.