(adj) seemingly loud enough to break something; violently rattling or clattering, Example:shattering rain striking the windowpanes; the shattering tones of the enormous carillon; the shattering peal of artillery
(adj) sufficiently significant to affect the whole world, Syn. world-shattering, world-shaking, Example:earthshaking proposals; the contest was no world-shaking affair; the conversation...could hardly be called world-shattering