shattering
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈʃætɝɪŋ// UK //ʃˈætəɹɪŋ// shat·ter·ing
adj. extremely upsetting or shocking. You use this to describe news or an event that makes you feel like your world is falling apart.
adj. causing extreme distress, shock, or exhaustion; having a devastating effect. Often used to describe emotional impact or physical fatigue.
The news of the accident was shattering for the whole family.
After working a double shift at the hospital, she felt a sense of shattering exhaustion that made it hard to even speak.
The shattering realization that his lifelong research had been based on a flawed premise forced the professor to reconsider his entire academic legacy.
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'seem'.