sledgehammer

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noun sledge·ham·mer \ ˈslej-ˌha-mər \

Definition of sledgehammer

:a large heavy hammer that is wielded with both hands; also :something that resembles a sledgehammer in action

See sledgehammer defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of sledgehammer from the Web

A 225-year-old monument to Christopher Columbus was damaged by a vandal who took a sledgehammer to the obelisk in Baltimore.

— Washington Post, "Motorcyclist killed in weekend crash near Howard University," 21 Aug. 2017
Born Jeff Abel, his ominous productions sound like lasers bouncing off close quarters as sledgehammers raze skyscrapers.

— wesley case, baltimoresun.com, "Moonrise Festival: a strong lineup amid the sensory overload," 14 Aug. 2017
Take this excerpt of a June New York Times piece: Five months after leaving office, Mr. Obama watches mostly in silence as his successor takes a political sledgehammer to his legacy.

— jack moore, GQ, "Donald Trump's Only Policy Agenda Seems to Be "Undo Obama Stuff"," 10 Aug. 2017
Then, the Senate Parliamentarian took a sledgehammer to its rib cage.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Conservatives Just Lost Their Favorite Part of Trumpcare," 27 July 2017
There was a gaping hole on the side of the base — like someone hit it with a sledgehammer.

— rachel linhart, Good Housekeeping, "Confessions of an Unabashed Toilet Seat Sitter," 19 June 2017
Guards used axes, mallets and sledgehammers on their victims.

— jonathan m. pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Family resurrects rare account of little-known WWII Croatian concentration camp," 16 June 2017
A classical crossover superstar, 33-year-old organ virtuoso Cameron Carpenter has taken a sledgehammer to classical conventions.

— jim harrington, The Mercury News, "SFJAZZ releases blockbuster 2017-18 season lineup," 15 June 2017
Accompanying their vocals, Brennan's equipment, now unboxed, but also improvised instruments, including sledgehammer snares, straw broom high hats and a 6-foot rainwater container acting as a bass drum.

— thomas page, CNN, "Songs from Tanzania's island of albinos," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sledgehammer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of sledgehammer

15th century

sledgehammer

verb

Definition of sledgehammer

transitive verb

:to strike with or as if with a sledgehammer

intransitive verb

:to strike blows with or as if with a sledgehammer

Recent Examples of sledgehammer from the Web

Rhett LeCompte of Houma and two of his buddies have sledgehammered a niche on social media that dubs Cajun phrases, accents and topics over iconic movie scenes.

— NOLA.com, "Houma resident dubs Cajun sayings over iconic movie scenes," 30 June 2017