1
as in draws
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 hits
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 licks
to strike repeatedly
tried hammering the door to wake them up the crops were hammered with hail
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in scolds
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 hammers
Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 3 Apr. 2026
Investors who rushed to lend money to real estate developers in the United Arab Emirates are nursing losses as the Iran war hammers their bonds and threatens to stall a borrowing binge.
—Selcuk Gokoluk, Bloomberg, 13 Mar. 2026
Bouchard hammers the math, but fans and media are influenced by exciting plays, and everyone has bias about specific player types.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Using a large mallet, the magician hammers the automaton, played in the film by a real-life human actor, into smaller and smaller sizes.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2026
Over and over again, Cameron hammers his favorite themes.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
That last part proves most elusive, as the film hammers home repeatedly, though not very subtly.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
The series really hammers home Scorsese’s exploration of good and evil in his work.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
From Pong to Fortnite, Minor’s investigation is a broad stroke that really hammers home just how vast and varied the gaming industry is.
—Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Ambrey Taylor hammers her eighth homer of the year off Texas pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez, and the Tide are rolling.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 3 Apr. 2026
Investors who rushed to lend money to real estate developers in the United Arab Emirates are nursing losses as the Iran war hammers their bonds and threatens to stall a borrowing binge.
—Selcuk Gokoluk, Bloomberg, 13 Mar. 2026
Bouchard hammers the math, but fans and media are influenced by exciting plays, and everyone has bias about specific player types.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Using a large mallet, the magician hammers the automaton, played in the film by a real-life human actor, into smaller and smaller sizes.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2026
Over and over again, Cameron hammers his favorite themes.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
That last part proves most elusive, as the film hammers home repeatedly, though not very subtly.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
The series really hammers home Scorsese’s exploration of good and evil in his work.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
From Pong to Fortnite, Minor’s investigation is a broad stroke that really hammers home just how vast and varied the gaming industry is.
—Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammers
Verb
-
The three-day event draws more than 100,000 fans every year for the festival, which headlines largely country music acts while raising money for marine conservation.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The annual affair, which draws Jeep owners and enthusiasts from around the globe, has become a crucial testing ground for the brand.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Michael hits theaters and Imax on Friday and stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in his feature debut as the pop music icon.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Rico Nasty’s acting debut hits close to home.—
Alex Gonzalez,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then, Mitski licks up the blood on the girl’s finger.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
-
After the drill, Ruin rolls onto his back, then licks a reporter's nose.—
Megan Sauer
Tasia Jensen,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This cross-partisan skit is refreshing and the only people who might hate it are Cuomo supporters and maybe some woke scolds.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
On our hike, Jessie Krebs scolds her boots for sliding on a slick, house-size boulder.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Eckert instructed the dads and sons to run a few hundred yards with kettlebells, sledgehammers, and sandbags, then to smash open the sandbags.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Three thieves used sledgehammers to perform a smash-and-grab at a popular Sherman Oaks mall on Wednesday evening, stealing jewelry and watches before fleeing the scene, authorities said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jaime Alas scores in stoppage time and El Salvador forges a 3-3 tie that ousts the United States from Olympic soccer qualifying.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
So holding 18, 19, 20-year-old young men to those standards on a daily basis is what forges championship teams.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Anderson slaps his hit down the right field line, just fair.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
At the end of the night, during the bows, Butler slaps the guys playing her two antagonists gently on their butts, a gesture that would have jarred in most stagings but fully in keeping with the inclusive, humanistic vibe of this production.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hammers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammers. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
