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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sledgehammer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hammer
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
There will be times when Roberts will leave a starter (or reliever) out there to get hammered in order to preserve the bullpen.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Police said he was armed with a hammer and intended to beat Shapiro with it if the two came face-to-face.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hammer
Verb
Goldschmidt’s 2024 campaign hammered that point home.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
There will be times when Roberts will leave a starter (or reliever) out there to get hammered in order to preserve the bullpen.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
An old man was hit with a hammer and that’s his first reaction.
—Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Police said he was armed with a hammer and intended to beat Shapiro with it if the two came face-to-face.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hammer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammer
Verb
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, annual fan conventions have been known to draw over 100,000 spectators.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Mary Magdalene, as the patron saint of outcasts, seemed to draw them in, welcoming skeptics like me to make room in our minds for more complex possibilities.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
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New York’s forward did so by staying attached through the bazillion screens Detroit set and recovering when he was hit.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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All that — that’s what came turning around the corner late Sunday afternoon, striding through a tunnel of fans off Augusta’s 18th green, walking without a shadow despite a shallow sun; arms extended, eyes welling, chest pounding.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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Deadly flooding in the South and Midwest The mother of a 9-year-old boy is speaking out after he was swept away and killed by floodwaters in Kentucky during the four days of historic storms that pounded the region.—
Chris Looft,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The White House was reprimanded: A federal judge scolded the Trump administration for failing to try to return the man.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
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At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt scolded reporters for not understanding the president’s plans.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With Elon Musk leading DOGE, Trump has tried to take a sledgehammer to government spending.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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One of the federal agents then takes a sledgehammer, breaks into the car window, and opens the car doors.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The duo forged a bond while on England duty at under-17 level.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
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There’s only forging ahead into the next mission — with another yearlong time-jump just around the corner.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The next day, animal control officers returned to the home and knocked on the door, but no one answered, authorities said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2025
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Jey landed a big uppercut early in the match that knocked Gunther on his butt.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Flames were licking the upper branches of tall trees.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
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While investors are licking their wounds from a plunging stock market, and businesses brace for economic fallout, major investment banks are reaping extraordinary profits, according to Wall Street Journal.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hammer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammer. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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