smithereen

/ˈsmɪθəriːn/

Definitions

1. noun

a small, irregular piece of something, especially a piece of broken glass or pottery

“She carefully swept up the smithereens of the broken vase from the floor.”

2. noun

a fragment or remnant

“The archaeologists were able to reconstruct the ancient statue from its smithereens.”

3. verb

to break something into small pieces

“The vase smithereened on the floor after she dropped it.”

Synonyms

  • shards
  • splinters

Antonyms

  • intact
  • whole