# shattered

/ˈʃætɝd/ (US) · /ʃˈætəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shattered
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. broken into pieces

adjective · CEFR B2

broken into many small, sharp pieces.

For teachers: physically broken or smashed into numerous small fragments.

- The floor was covered in shattered glass after the window broke.
- The forensic team carefully collected the shattered remnants of the vase, hoping to reconstruct the original pattern for identification.

### 2. extremely tired

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

feeling completely exhausted or very tired.

For teachers: experiencing extreme physical or mental exhaustion. Often used in informal British contexts.

- I was absolutely shattered after working a twelve-hour shift.
- By the time they reached the summit after ten hours of climbing, the entire team was completely shattered and unable to continue.

Usage: Commonly modified by intensifiers like 'absolutely' or 'completely'.

### 3. emotionally destroyed

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling very upset, shocked, or without hope.

For teachers: profoundly distressed, shocked, or emotionally devastated by a negative event.

- She was shattered by the news that she didn't get the job.
- The community was left shattered by the sudden closure of the factory, which had been the town's primary employer for decades.

## Examples

- I am absolutely shattered after that long run.
- By the time they finished moving all the furniture into the new apartment, everyone felt completely shattered.
- The glass door was shattered into thousands of tiny shards, leaving the shop owner both devastated and physically shattered from the stress of the break-in.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.