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
Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Hartthijs de Vries, the 29-year-old who has been with the team for every year of their existence, hammers the pace at the front to keep the breakaway in check.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 May 2026
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
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
Verb
Saws buzz, trucks beep, and hammers clatter.
—Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Hartthijs de Vries, the 29-year-old who has been with the team for every year of their existence, hammers the pace at the front to keep the breakaway in check.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammers
Verb
-
The Asian New Talent section, which spotlights debut and second features by Asian directors, draws 12 titles from across the continent and beyond.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 May 2026
-
Just like Smart’s pair of floral pants, these have a crisp white base with a floral pattern that instantly draws eyes.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Carney hits the best notes at the film’s beginning and most notably at its tear-you-up end.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Albert Pujols hits his 600th home run, the historic blast being a 4th-inning grand slam off Ervin Santana of the Twins in a 7-2 Angels win.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
A lot of freedom going on between the guitars, a lotta little licks intermingle with the big guitar licks that the song is all about.—
Liza Lentini,
SPIN,
22 May 2026
-
At one point A’zion licks the digitally de-aged Mick Jagger’s face.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Stumbling on to this ruse, Antoine’s friend and manager Armand (Gilles Lellouche) immediately can tell Suzanne is a fake and scolds her for exploiting his friend’s grief.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
-
Or tie scolds to the ducking stool again.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 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
-
Hailstones crash through glass like sledgehammers.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Duncan forges ahead with Carl as his new partner.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
-
McCartney just forges ahead, and nothing can stop him.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
That direct relationship is what separates a true farm to table operation from a restaurant that simply slaps the phrase on a marketing page.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
-
Anderson slaps his hit down the right field line, just fair.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rain pounds down in a stinging curtain.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
Her silver nail polish—reminiscent of the shade worn by Lou Reed (from one New York legend to another) in footage shown during Todd Haynes’s documentary The Velvet Underground—sparkles as Gaga pounds the keys of her piano throughout the film.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hammers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammers. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
