smash

¹smash

noun \ˈsmash\

Definition of SMASH

1

a : a smashing blow or attack

b : a hard overhand stroke (as in tennis or badminton)

2

a : the action or sound of smashing; especially : a wreck due to collision : crash

b : utter collapse : ruin

3

: a striking success

Examples of SMASH

1. The new movie is a smash.
2. She was a smash at the party.
3. His new song promises to be a smash hit.
4. The vase fell to the ground with a loud smash.
5. She hit an overhand smash that won the match.

Origin of SMASH

perhaps blend of ⁴smack and ²mash

First Known Use: 1725

Related to SMASH

Synonyms

bump, collision, concussion, crash, impingement, jar, jolt, jounce, kick, shock, slam, impact, strike, wallop

Antonyms

bomb, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, debacle (also débâcle), dud, failure, fiasco, flop, misfire, turkey, washout

Related Words

blow, buffet, hit, knock, punch, rap, slap, thump; bashing, battering, bludgeoning, clobbering, hammering, lambasting, licking, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing; contact, encounter, meeting, touch

Near Antonyms

disappointment, fizzle, lemon, loser

Rhymes with SMASH

Asch, ash, bash, brash, cache, cash, clash, crash, dash, fash, flash, gash, gnash, hash, lash, mash, pash, plash, rash, sash, slash, splash, stash, thrash, thresh, trash

²smash

verb

Definition of SMASH

transitive verb

1

: to break or crush by violence

2

a : to drive or throw violently especially with a shattering or battering effect; also : to effect in this way

b : to hit violently : batter

c (1) : to hit (as a tennis ball) with a hard overhand stroke (2) : to drive (a ball) with a forceful stroke

3

: to destroy utterly : wreck

intransitive verb

1

: to move or become propelled with violence or crashing effect <smashed into a tree>

2

: to become wrecked

3

: to go to pieces suddenly under collision or pressure

— smash·er noun

Examples of SMASH

1. He smashed the vase with a hammer.
2. The ball smashed the window.
3. The vase fell and smashed to pieces.
4. He smashed into the wall.
5. She smashed the ball deep into the opposite corner.

First Known Use of SMASH

1764

Related to SMASH

Synonyms

break down, crash, shatter

Antonyms

build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words

bust, fracture, fragment; annihilate, bash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, pulverize, ruin, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck; shiver, splinter, split; crack, crunch, crush, snap

Near Antonyms

collapse, implode

³smash

adjective

Definition of SMASH

: being a smash : outstanding <a smash hit>

First Known Use of SMASH

1923