ham·mer·head | \ ˈha-mər-ˌhed 
\
\Definition of hammerhead
1 : the striking part of a hammer
2 : blockhead
3 : any of a family (Sphyrnidae) of active voracious medium-sized sharks that have the eyes at the ends of lateral extensions of the flattened head — see shark illustration
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms & Antonyms for hammerhead
Synonyms
- airhead,
- birdbrain,
- blockhead,
- bonehead,
- bubblehead,
- chowderhead,
- chucklehead,
- clodpoll
- (or clodpole),
- clot
- [British],
- cluck,
- clunk,
- cretin,
- cuddy
- (or cuddie)
- [British dialect],
- deadhead,
- dim bulb
- [slang],
- dimwit,
- dip,
- dodo,
- dolt,
- donkey,
- doofus
- [slang],
- dope,
- dork
- [slang],
- dullard,
- dum-dum,
- dumbbell,
- dumbhead,
- dummkopf,
- dummy,
- dunce,
- dunderhead,
- fathead,
- gander,
- golem,
- goof,
- goon,
- half-wit,
- hardhead,
- idiot,
- ignoramus,
- imbecile,
- jackass,
- know-nothing,
- knucklehead,
- lamebrain,
- loggerhead
- [chiefly dialect],
- loon,
- lump,
- lunkhead,
- meathead,
- mome
- [archaic],
- moron,
- mug
- [chiefly British],
- mutt,
- natural,
- nimrod
- [slang],
- nincompoop,
- ninny,
- ninnyhammer,
- nit
- [chiefly British],
- nitwit,
- noddy,
- noodle,
- numskull
- (or numbskull),
- oaf,
- pinhead,
- prat
- [British],
- ratbag
- [chiefly Australian],
- saphead,
- schlub
- (also shlub)
- [slang],
- schnook
- [slang],
- simpleton,
- stock,
- stupe,
- stupid,
- thickhead,
- turkey,
- woodenhead,
- yahoo,
- yo-yo
Antonyms
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of hammerhead in a Sentence
we despair of ever getting those hammerheads to buckle their seat belts without prodding
Recent Examples on the Web Later that day a 12-foot hammerhead swam slowly past my kayak.
—
Nate Matthews, Field & Stream, "F&S Classics: Baja By Bike," 7 Dec. 2020 The heads can also serve as weapons — biologists have observed a female great hammerhead use her noggin to bludgeon a stingray.
—
Cara Giaimo, New York Times, "The Pros and Cons of Swimming With a Hammer Head," 20 Sep. 2020 Taylor-Joy’s eyes, which are the size of silver dollars and set far apart, giving her the appearance of a beautiful hammerhead shark.
—
Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, "“The Queen’s Gambit” Is the Most Satisfying Show on Television," 13 Nov. 2020 Fishermen claim that one of the sharks is a 15-foot-long, half-ton great hammerhead named Big Moe.
—
Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "Shark Week 2020 (8/12/20) live stream: How to watch Adam Devine find shark lair online, TV info," 12 Aug. 2020 Fishermen claim that one of the sharks is a 15-foot-long, half-ton great hammerhead named Big Moe.
—
Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "Shark Week 2020 (8/12/20) live stream: How to watch Adam Devine find shark lair online, TV info," 12 Aug. 2020 There are at least eight hammerhead species, enough to fill a tool belt.
—
Cara Giaimo, New York Times, "The Pros and Cons of Swimming With a Hammer Head," 20 Sep. 2020 Fishermen claim that one of the sharks is a 15-foot-long, half-ton great hammerhead named Big Moe.
—
Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "Shark Week 2020 (8/12/20) live stream: How to watch Adam Devine find shark lair online, TV info," 12 Aug. 2020 Fishermen claim that one of the sharks is a 15-foot-long, half-ton great hammerhead named Big Moe.
—
Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "Shark Week 2020 (8/12/20) live stream: How to watch Adam Devine find shark lair online, TV info," 12 Aug. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hammerhead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for hammerhead
hammerhead
nounham·mer·head | \ ˈha-mər-ˌhed \
\Kids Definition of hammerhead
: a shark that has a wide flattened head with the eyes spaced widely apart
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on hammerhead
What made you want to look up hammerhead? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
- What is an earlier meaning of nice?
Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Spell words. Make bears.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
Do you know these earlier meanings of words?
Take the quiz - Words of Snow and Ice Quiz
A selection of words from the chillier parts of t...
Take the quiz - How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
Take the quiz - Play the game
Share hammerhead
Time Traveler for hammerhead
The first known use of hammerhead was in 1562
See more words from the same year