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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to pound
to strike repeatedly
tried hammering the door to wake them up the crops were hammered with hail
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hammer
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Still, the stability of Stretch may be attractive to investors after a volatile stretch for Bitcoin in the final months of 2025, including a sharp selloff that hammered crypto-heavy balance sheets.
—Melos Ambaye, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
The living-room floor had a divot that matched the head of a hammer.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hammer
Verb
Countries such as Japan and South Korea are heavily dependent on energy imports, and have been hammered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Still, the stability of Stretch may be attractive to investors after a volatile stretch for Bitcoin in the final months of 2025, including a sharp selloff that hammered crypto-heavy balance sheets.
—Melos Ambaye, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
Clean spilled paint from the lid before closing, and use a hammer to tightly close the can.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
The living-room floor had a divot that matched the head of a hammer.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hammer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammer
Verb
-
The recently recovered Celtics star drew a shooting foul, fed Queta for a cutting dunk and sank a 3-pointer on consecutive Celtics possessions, then pulled up for an 18-footer a minute later.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Defender Nathan Byrne and Inter Miami’s Mateo Silvetti collided in an early head-on crash, with Silvetti drawing a yellow card.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The mobile margarita bar in an an old VW van was an Instagram hit - and served a pretty perfect cocktail.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The Big 12 player of the year hit the game-winner from the right side — while also falling to his right with the Cyclones’ Killyan Toure closely guarding.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Surprise, surprise, the drums started pounding for the SOB Act shortly after (though various legislative attempts have floated since Proposition 12 was passed) backed by a Midwestern congresswoman from a Big Pork state.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There was no one to scold me for lapping up the mixture like a cat to milk.—
Via Chronicle Books,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
At one point her mother, Ri Sol Ju, appears to gently scold her for some transgression as Kim watches with a broad smile.—
Jen Kwon,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nearly 70 years ago, Robert Moses took a sledgehammer to the Bronx, severing New York City’s only mainland borough and poisoning our neighborhoods for his Cross Bronx Expressway.—
Gustavo Rivera,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Wearing hooded sweatshirts and full-face masks, the robbers ordered employees to one part of the room at gunpoint before two of them smashed the glass display cases with sledgehammers, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.—
Nick Sullivan
March 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some women have forged ahead anyway.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2026
-
By playing against type, by glamming down and going raw, Taylor helped forge the modern template for so many Oscar-winning performances that followed her.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With the combination of rising oil prices, and the demand knocking at Moscow's door, Vladimir Vladimirovich's war against Ukraine might could be much better funded for the rest of the year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The spotless streets are polished nightly by the feet of families licking ice cream.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The dog ignored him, and licked the boy’s face.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hammer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
