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
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 June 2026
Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm hammered a four-seam fastball that skimmed the top of the strike zone over the center-field wall in the first inning.
—Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Alas, Shao Khan smashes Cole’s head with a hammer, Gallagher style, and shoves his body into a vat of acid.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hammer
Verb
Presley’s guitars also hammer down impressive amounts at auction.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 June 2026
Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm hammered a four-seam fastball that skimmed the top of the strike zone over the center-field wall in the first inning.
—Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Noun
Grimes, 29, had damaged his mother’s house with a hammer and refused to come out of the house when officers arrived.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Alas, Shao Khan smashes Cole’s head with a hammer, Gallagher style, and shoves his body into a vat of acid.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hammer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammer
Verb
-
The atmosphere surrounding the state championships was notably calmer than a year ago, when demonstrations over Hernandez’s participation drew national attention.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
Jimmy Gunn had an infield single to load the bases before Ian Brooke drew a four-pitch walk to push across the go-ahead run.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The Rockies’ Kyle Karros hit an opposite-field line drive that carried to the right-field warning track, but Lee tracked down the potential extra-base hit on the run, then crashed into the chain-link portion of the fence.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
-
The hitting coaches have been really emphasizing it.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The Israeli military early Thursday pounded Lebanon’s fourth largest city, killing at least 14 people across the south of the country in its ongoing military escalation against the Hezbollah group ahead of crucial talks in Washington.—
Kyla Guilfoil,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
Fighter jets roared overhead, and air strikes pounded the surrounding hillsides, sending up thick plumes of acrid smoke.—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Publicly, Ingoglia has become known for barnstorming the state to hold choreographed press conferences scolding cities and counties for wasteful spending.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
-
Messi seemed to scold La Familia at one point with a finger wag aimed in their direction, showing his displeasure with their protest.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The men found information on target businesses and used pry bars and sledgehammers to break into buildings and open safes that stored pull-tab proceeds, the complaint states.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
28 May 2026
-
Then there is Illan Meslier, the former first-choice goalkeeper who sent a message as subtle as a sledgehammer with his extended farewell to Elland Road last weekend.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
The pair also forged AlHusseini’s bank and brokerage statements to inflate his assets by millions of dollars to help get the loans, prosecutors said.—
Andrea Klick,
Oc Register,
2 June 2026
-
David Halberstam, who announced Heat games on radio for six seasons and then forged a long career as a broadcasting executive and media critic, died this week after a long battle with brain cancer.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Within Kyiv, five medical facilities and several residential and commercial blocks were damaged or destroyed, sparking fires, burning cars and knocking debris onto a kindergarten, authorities reported.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Just outside the room, Hadley eagerly licked it up.—
Laura Ungar,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
-
Just outside the room, Hadley eagerly licked it up.—
Laura Ungar,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hammer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
