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
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3
as in to pound
to strike repeatedly
tried hammering the door to wake them up the crops were hammered with hail
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hammer
Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
The rise in bond yields may hammer borrowers, but larger annual payments from low-risk treasuries could offset some of that pain, analysts said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2025
Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Bunions were forming on the sides of my feet, and my little toes were starting to scrunch into claws, or hammer toes.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hammer 
Verb
The Rams hammered the Vikings 27-9 Monday night to win their first playoff game since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy three years ago.
—Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
The rise in bond yields may hammer borrowers, but larger annual payments from low-risk treasuries could offset some of that pain, analysts said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
In a mobile home park in Sylmar, Calif., one woman grabbed a hammer to smash the window of a neighbor’s house to retrieve a yapping dog.
—Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Bunions were forming on the sides of my feet, and my little toes were starting to scrunch into claws, or hammer toes.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hammer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammer
Verb
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Gravity draws the water down into faucets, pools and hydrants below, and then the tanks are refilled with water pumped up from the city’s pipelines.—
Laura J. Nelson,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2025
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Though Carroll is now officially with the Raiders, his candidacy has also drawn significant attention from the Dallas Cowboys.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Acuña flashed during a late-season call-up, hitting .308 with three home runs in 39 at-bats.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
25 Jan. 2025
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At her best, the 26-year-old’s powerful hitting from the baseline is borderline unstoppable, particularly on hard courts.—
George Ramsay,
CNN,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As Israel pounded Gaza in response Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
20 Jan. 2025
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The first phase of the truce took effect following a three-hour delay during which Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded the Gaza Strip.—
Mohammed Salem,
USA TODAY,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Anti-Defamation League is scolding Elon Musk after coming to the billionaire titan’s defense earlier in the week.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
23 Jan. 2025
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Those opinions are usually punctuated by scolding those who do not immediately comply.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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To the surprise of his wife and son, Chappelle’s Reggie starts taking a sledgehammer to the wall to retrieve $500,000 in cash and a counterfeit passport.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
19 Jan. 2025
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The decision took a sledgehammer to Smith’s federal election subversion indictment against Trump and laid out an uncertain path for his other criminal cases.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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With that said, tiles forged from natural materials, like marble or granite, are porous and do not hold up well against steam mops’ moisture and high temps.—
Maria Conti,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2025
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Whether rekindling old friendships or forging new rivalries, these ladies are ready to make their mark.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And in this case, Homeland Security is knocking on states’ doors.—
Ana Ceballos,
Miami Herald,
25 Jan. 2025
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But Keys was able to knock the tennis titan off balance with a stunning opening match, eventually winning the whole tournament in the final set, which was tied till the very end.—
Mansee Khurana,
NPR,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Buffy loves to groom—in other words, lick—my hair, probably as an act of dominance, according to my vet.—
Elizabeth Denton,
Allure,
28 Jan. 2025
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Having another week off to lick wounds is pretty nice, too.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to hammer
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Cite this Entry
“Hammer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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