shattered
Something that is shattered is broken into many tiny pieces or someone who is feeling very tired or sad.
Explanation at your level:
If you drop a glass, it breaks into many small pieces. We call this shattered. You can also feel shattered if you are very tired after a long day of playing or work. It is a strong word for 'broken' or 'tired'.
Use shattered when something is destroyed completely. For example, 'The window was shattered by the ball.' You can also use it for feelings. If you are exhausted, you can say, 'I am shattered!' It is a common word in daily life.
Shattered is used to describe both physical objects and emotional states. When a mirror is shattered, it is in many pieces. When a person is shattered, they are emotionally devastated or physically drained. It is a more descriptive word than 'tired' or 'broken'.
In B2 English, we use shattered to add intensity. It is a strong adjective, so avoid using 'very' with it. It is often used in metaphors, like shattered dreams or shattered reputation, to show that something cannot be easily fixed.
Advanced users employ shattered to convey nuance in both literary and professional settings. It suggests a sense of finality and irreparable damage. Whether describing the shattered remnants of a civilization or the shattered composure of a witness, the word carries a weight that simpler synonyms lack.
At the C2 level, shattered is appreciated for its phonetic impact and its etymological roots in Germanic 'crashing' sounds. It is used to evoke visceral imagery. In academic or high-level literary discourse, it signifies a total dissolution of form or spirit, moving beyond mere damage to total annihilation of the subject's integrity.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- Means broken into tiny pieces.
- Also means extremely tired.
- Used for emotional devastation.
- Avoid using 'very' with it.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word shattered. It is a powerful adjective that paints a very clear picture in your mind.
When we use it for objects, think of a glass vase falling onto a hard floor. It doesn't just crack; it explodes into tiny, sharp pieces. That is shattered.
But we also use it for people! If you have had a really long day and you feel like you cannot take another step, you might say, 'I am absolutely shattered.' It also works for emotions—if someone receives terrible news, we might say their heart is shattered.
The word shattered comes from the Middle English word schateren, which meant to scatter or break into pieces.
It is related to the Middle Dutch word schateren, which meant to crash or make a loud noise. It's fascinating how the sound of the word—that sharp 'sh' and 't'—actually mimics the sound of something breaking!
Over centuries, it evolved from just describing physical breaking to describing the 'breaking' of a person's spirit or energy levels. It is a great example of how language shifts from the physical world to the internal, human experience.
You will hear shattered in both casual and dramatic contexts. It is a very common word in British English to describe being tired, often more so than in American English.
Common phrases include shattered glass, shattered dreams, and shattered nerves. Because it is a 'strong' adjective, you usually don't need to add 'very' before it. Saying 'I am very shattered' is a bit redundant because 'shattered' already implies the maximum level of exhaustion.
1. Shattered to pieces: Completely destroyed. Example: 'His confidence was shattered to pieces after the failure.'
2. Shatter someone's hopes: To destroy someone's dreams. Example: 'The rejection letter shattered her hopes of getting into the school.'
3. Shatter the silence: To make a loud noise suddenly. Example: 'A scream shattered the silence of the night.'
4. Shatter the glass ceiling: To break through social barriers. Example: 'She shattered the glass ceiling to become the first female CEO.'
5. Shattered nerves: Being extremely anxious or stressed. Example: 'After the car accident, he had shattered nerves for weeks.'
Shattered is an adjective derived from the past participle of the verb 'shatter.' It is pronounced /ˈʃætərd/ in the US and /ˈʃætəd/ in the UK.
It is a non-gradable adjective in many contexts, meaning it describes an extreme state. You don't usually say 'a little shattered' or 'very shattered.' You are either shattered or you are not!
It rhymes with battered, scattered, flattered, plattered, and tattered.
Fun Fact
The word is onomatopoeic, meaning it sounds like what it describes.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'a' sound, silent 'r' at the end
Short 'a' sound, rhotic 'r' at the end
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'sh' sound
- Adding extra syllables
- Confusing 'a' with 'e'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to use
Easy to understand
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Past Participles as Adjectives
The shattered glass.
Non-gradable Adjectives
I am shattered (not very shattered).
State Verbs
I feel shattered.
Examples by Level
The glass is shattered.
The glass is broken.
Adjective usage
I am shattered.
I am very tired.
Describing feelings
The vase shattered.
The vase broke.
Past tense verb
It is all shattered.
It is all broken.
Pronoun usage
My toy is shattered.
My toy is broken.
Possessive adjective
Don't touch the shattered glass.
Be careful of broken glass.
Imperative
The plate shattered.
The plate broke.
Verb usage
Are you shattered?
Are you tired?
Question form
The window was shattered by the storm.
I felt shattered after the long race.
The mirror lay in shattered pieces.
She was shattered by the bad news.
The quiet was shattered by a loud bang.
My dreams were shattered.
He looked completely shattered.
The ice shattered under his feet.
The explosion shattered the windows of nearby buildings.
I was absolutely shattered after the three-hour meeting.
Her confidence was shattered by the harsh criticism.
The peace of the morning was shattered by the alarm.
He picked up the shattered fragments of the vase.
The team's hopes were shattered in the final minute.
She felt shattered after working two jobs.
The glass shattered into a thousand pieces.
The scandal shattered his long-standing reputation.
She was left feeling emotionally shattered after the breakup.
The sudden noise shattered the fragile silence of the library.
His plans were shattered by the unexpected change in policy.
They found the shattered remains of the ancient pottery.
The athlete was physically shattered by the intense training.
The illusion of safety was shattered by the events.
The shattered economy struggled to recover.
The revelation shattered the carefully constructed facade of his life.
She stood amidst the shattered remnants of her former career.
The symphony's finale shattered the audience's expectations.
His composure was shattered by the unexpected confrontation.
The shattered landscape bore witness to the severity of the conflict.
The myth of invincibility was shattered by the defeat.
She felt a shattered sense of identity after the ordeal.
The shattered glass glittered under the streetlights.
The shattered psyche of the protagonist is a central theme of the novel.
The geopolitical stability of the region was shattered overnight.
He gazed at the shattered mirror, seeing a fractured version of himself.
The shattered consensus led to a total breakdown in negotiations.
The shattered remnants of the empire were scattered across the desert.
The profound grief left her feeling completely shattered.
The shattered logic of the argument was easily dismantled.
The shattered silence was replaced by a deafening roar.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"shatter the glass ceiling"
Overcoming social barriers
She shattered the glass ceiling in tech.
formal"shatter someone's confidence"
Make someone feel insecure
Don't let them shatter your confidence.
neutral"shattered to the core"
Deeply affected emotionally
He was shattered to the core.
literary"shatter the peace"
End a period of quiet
The dog shattered the peace.
neutral"shatter someone's world"
Cause major life disruption
The news shattered her world.
dramatic"shatter expectations"
Exceed or destroy norms
They shattered all expectations.
formalEasily Confused
Both mean damaged.
Broken is general; shattered is extreme.
The cup is broken vs. the cup is shattered.
Both involve damage.
Cracked has lines; shattered has pieces.
The screen is cracked, not shattered.
Both mean tired.
Exhausted is standard; shattered is more emphatic.
I am exhausted vs. I am shattered.
Both imply force.
Smashed is the action; shattered is the state.
He smashed it; now it is shattered.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + shattered
The vase is shattered.
Subject + feels + shattered
I feel shattered.
Subject + left + someone + shattered
The news left her shattered.
Subject + shattered + the + noun
He shattered the silence.
Adjective + noun + was + shattered
His confidence was shattered.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
Shattered is an extreme adjective; 'very' is unnecessary.
Use the past participle form for the feeling.
Shattered already implies pieces.
There is no phrasal verb 'shatter up'.
Use past participle for the state of being.
Tips
Sound Association
Think of the sound of glass breaking when you say it.
Tiredness
Use it when you are more than just 'tired'.
UK English
It's a staple of British slang for exhaustion.
No 'Very'
Don't use 'very' with extreme adjectives.
Clear T's
Pronounce the double T clearly.
Don't say 'shattering tired'
Just say 'shattered'.
Onomatopoeia
The word sounds like the action.
Visuals
Search for images of shattered glass to link the meaning.
Metaphors
Use it to describe broken dreams or plans.
Past Participle
It functions as an adjective here.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Shatter = S-h-a-t-t-e-r (Smashed H-as A-ll T-iny T-hings E-verywhere R-eally)
Visual Association
A mirror hitting the floor and exploding.
Word Web
چالش
Use 'shattered' to describe your energy level today.
ریشه کلمه
Middle English
Original meaning: To scatter or crash
بافت فرهنگی
None
Commonly used in UK English to mean 'tired'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At home
- The plate shattered
- I am shattered
- Shattered glass
At work
- Shattered confidence
- Shattered expectations
- Shattered plans
In news
- Shattered windows
- Shattered lives
- Shattered peace
In relationships
- Shattered dreams
- Shattered heart
- Shattered trust
Conversation Starters
"What is the most shattered thing you have ever seen?"
"Do you feel shattered after a long week?"
"Have you ever had your dreams shattered?"
"What is a sound that could shatter the silence?"
"How do you recover when you feel shattered?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt completely shattered.
Write about a physical object that was shattered.
What does it mean to have a 'shattered' reputation?
How do you pick up the pieces when things are shattered?
سوالات متداول
8 سوالIt is generally avoided because 'shattered' is already an extreme adjective.
No, it is used for emotions and energy too.
It is used everywhere, but very common in UK English for 'tired'.
The verb is 'to shatter'.
Yes, 'shattered heart' is a common metaphor.
No, shattered implies more damage than just a crack.
No, it usually describes something negative.
S-H-A-T-T-E-R-E-D.
خودت رو بسنج
The glass is ___.
Glass breaks into pieces.
If you are shattered, you are...
Shattered means exhausted.
Can a person be shattered?
Yes, it means they are exhausted or sad.
Word
معنی
Synonyms match.
Subject-verb-adjective order.
My ___ were shattered after the loss.
Dreams are often shattered.
Which is a synonym for shattered?
Destroyed is a synonym.
Shattered is a gradable adjective.
It is usually non-gradable.
Word
معنی
Contextual matches.
Complex sentence structure.
امتیاز: /10
Summary
Shattered describes things broken into pieces or people who are completely exhausted.
- Means broken into tiny pieces.
- Also means extremely tired.
- Used for emotional devastation.
- Avoid using 'very' with it.
Sound Association
Think of the sound of glass breaking when you say it.
Tiredness
Use it when you are more than just 'tired'.
UK English
It's a staple of British slang for exhaustion.
No 'Very'
Don't use 'very' with extreme adjectives.
