noun
smithereens
smih-thuh-REENZ
noun
1
Small scattered fragments, especially from something broken violently.
"The vase fell and shattered into smithereens."
"The old shed was blown to smithereens in the storm."
How to Use Smithereens
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTiny broken pieces, always used to describe something totally shattered.
Common pairings
blown to smithereens
smashed to smithereens
Word Forms
smithereen singular
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The vase fell and shattered into _____.
Etymology
Likely from Irish smidiríní, "small fragments," though the exact path into English is uncertain.