Cool MateDevastate vs Shatter
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Devastate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Shatter
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
| Devastate | Shatter | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdevəsteɪt/","/ˈdevəsteɪts/","/ˈdevəsteɪtɪd/","/ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdevəsteɪt/","/ˈdevəsteɪts/","/ˈdevəsteɪtɪd/","/ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʃætə(r)/","/ˈʃætəz/","/ˈʃætəd/","/ˈʃætərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʃætər/","/ˈʃætərz/","/ˈʃætərd/","/ˈʃætərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to cause great damage or harm | To break something into many small pieces. |
| Example | The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. | The glass fell from the table and shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | devastate an area, devastate a community, devastate emotions, devastate lives | completely, into, shatter (something) into pieces, completely, abruptly, instantly |
| Antonyms | repair, restore, build | join, repair, unite |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'devastate' with 'devote', leading to incorrect usage, Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'The storm will devastate' instead of 'The storm will devastate the town.' | Using 'shatter' with living things, which is not appropriate., Confusing 'shatter' with 'break', since 'shatter' implies more violence., Using 'shattered' incorrectly as a noun. |
| Usage notes | Used often in discussions about natural disasters or emotional situations. Avoid in light-hearted contexts. Generally appropriate when describing serious impacts. | Use 'shatter' when talking about glass or similar materials breaking. Avoid using it for things that break in a less dramatic way, like paper. |
Frequently asked questions: Devastate vs Shatter
What's the difference between Devastate and Shatter?
Devastate: to cause great damage or harm Shatter: To break something into many small pieces.
Are Devastate and Shatter the same CEFR level?
Devastate: C1, Shatter: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Devastate and Shatter?
Devastate: verb, Shatter: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Devastate: The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. Shatter: The glass fell from the table and shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.
Can I use Devastate and Shatter interchangeably?
Not always. Devastate and Shatter are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.