jackhammer

noun

jack·​ham·​mer ˈjak-ˌha-mər 

1

: a pneumatically operated percussive rock-drilling tool usually held in the hands

2

: a device in which a tool (such as a chisel for breaking up pavements) is driven percussively by compressed air

jackhammer verb

Examples of jackhammer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not suitable for extremely loud impulse sounds such as jackhammers or gunfire, or against sustained sounds louder than 110 dBA. —Brad Moon, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

But while a thunderous jackhammer of a policy disruption may be appealing, sometimes a mere scalpel will suffice. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025

Prosecutors learned Boyle had rented a jackhammer two days before his wife disappeared and cited it as evidence of premeditation. —Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025

For that, the decibel level in the press box hit 110 — roughly the level of a jackhammer. —Arpon Basu, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for jackhammer

• programmer
• sledgehammer
• tetramer
• amor
• clamor
• clamour
• glamor
• glamour
• grammar
• hammer
• jammer
• rammer

Kids Definition

jackhammer

noun

jack·​ham·​mer ˈjak-ˌham-ər 

: a tool driven by compressed air that is used for drilling or breaking up hard substances (as rock or pavement) by a repeated pounding action