What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
break
Example
Be careful not to break the glass when you wash it. [break: verb]
Example
Let's take a break and have some snacks before we continue working. [break: noun]
shatter
Example
The vase fell off the shelf and shattered into a thousand pieces. [shattered: past tense]
Example
The news of her father's death shattered her world. [shattered: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Break is more commonly used than shatter in everyday language. Break is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while shatter is less common and has a stronger connotation of severe breakage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between break and shatter?
While break can be used in both formal and informal contexts, shatter is typically associated with a more formal tone due to its stronger connotation of complete destruction or fragmentation.
