1
as in to draw
to shape with a hammer
medieval artisans hammered brass into various bowls and trays, which they then embossed with elaborate designs
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2
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
hammer a nail hammered the ball for a home run
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to pound
to strike repeatedly
tried hammering the door to wake them up the crops were hammered with hail
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
the critics have long been hammering the stage actress for resorting to the same mixed bag of mannerisms over and over
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sledgehammer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hammer
News Desk, Artforum, 8 Apr. 2025
As markets braced for another meltdown triggered by President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, Democrats hammered the president for spending the weekend golfing rather than responding to Americans' fears that their retirement accounts are plummeting with the markets.
—John Helton, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2025
Louis Menand, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
The indiscriminate slashing has given impotent Democrats a hammer to use against the administration.
—Nolan Finley, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hammer
Verb
In good news, auction sales of works hammering for less than $5,000 increased by 7 percent, while smaller galleries with turnover of less than $250,000 saw sales climb by 17 percent, marking a second year of growth for such dealers.
—News Desk, Artforum, 8 Apr. 2025
As markets braced for another meltdown triggered by President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, Democrats hammered the president for spending the weekend golfing rather than responding to Americans' fears that their retirement accounts are plummeting with the markets.
—John Helton, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
If the Administration were not using this kind of fake (to borrow a term) legalism as an excuse to take a hammer to higher education, the letter might be funny.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
The indiscriminate slashing has given impotent Democrats a hammer to use against the administration.
—Nolan Finley, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hammer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammer
Verb
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Mary Magdalene, as the patron saint of outcasts, seemed to draw them in, welcoming skeptics like me to make room in our minds for more complex possibilities.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, annual fan conventions have been known to draw over 100,000 spectators.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The match began with Uso and Gunther going back and forth with each Superstar hitting their signature moves.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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All that — that’s what came turning around the corner late Sunday afternoon, striding through a tunnel of fans off Augusta’s 18th green, walking without a shadow despite a shallow sun; arms extended, eyes welling, chest pounding.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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Deadly flooding in the South and Midwest The mother of a 9-year-old boy is speaking out after he was swept away and killed by floodwaters in Kentucky during the four days of historic storms that pounded the region.—
Chris Looft,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The White House was reprimanded: A federal judge scolded the Trump administration for failing to try to return the man.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
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In Congress, Trump’s Tariff Pullback Sparks Relief, Frustration, and Suspicion At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt scolded reporters for not understanding the president’s plans.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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An ambitious new effort to reframe the U.S. approach to climate is taking a sledgehammer to shibboleths on the left and the right.—
Ben Geman,
Axios,
7 Apr. 2025
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Doing it with the ‘sledgehammer’ of a larger Tariff than 1930′s Smoot-Hawley, was bound to cause Turmoil in stocks, bonds, credit and commodities.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The film, which is represented internationally by Pathé, follows a woman who leaves her hometown to forge a bigger and better life for herself, but must return home because of a family emergency.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
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Cuban forged a particular bond with Dumont, sensing long-term business opportunities with the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, Sheldon’s widow.—
C. Clark, D. Aldridge, S. Amick, F. Katz,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Jey landed a big uppercut early in the match that knocked Gunther on his butt.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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The next day, animal control officers returned to the home and knocked on the door, but no one answered, authorities said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Flames were licking the upper branches of tall trees.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
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While investors are licking their wounds from a plunging stock market, and businesses brace for economic fallout, major investment banks are reaping extraordinary profits, according to Wall Street Journal.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hammer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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