1
as in shuts
to shove into a closed position with force and noise
please don't slam the door every time you step out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slaps
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
she slammed the ball deep into center field
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in collides
to come into usually forceful contact with something
the car slammed into the wall with a fearful crunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in attacks
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
slammed the cast members for forgetting their lines on opening night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the stubborn nail one last slam with the hammer
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in claps
a loud explosive sound
shut the door with a loud slam
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
sported a gang tattoo on his arm that had gotten him plenty of respect in the slam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in collisions
a forceful coming together of two things
the sudden slam of my head against the trunk of the car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 slams
Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
But dropping the gloves can feel like an exasperating last act born of desperation and hopelessness - a door that slams behind you, leaves you in the dark and seldom reopens.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Trump slams Mamdani after primary win Mamdani’s primary victory shocked the political establishment and excited progressives.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Continue reading … HOLLYWOOD RAGE – Filmmaker slams Trump as 'narcissistic a-------,' warns of looming environmental threat.
—FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
In the clip, Kaufman hands Beer all the remnants of their relationship in a box and slams the door in her face.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2025
Scientists have always assumed that when this stellar ejecta violently slams into dense gas surrounding the dying star, known as the circumstellar medium, this generates narrow emission lines in the light or spectra seen from Type II supernovas.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Jamaica reels after Hurricane Melissa slams into the island, severely damaging roads and hospitals.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Comedian Bill Maher suggests New York City Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani should renounce his Ugandan dual citizenship over the country’s record on LGBTQ+ rights, and slams the democratic candidate for his recent meeting with a New York Imam, also criticized for his stance on gay rights.
—The Hill, 27 Oct. 2025
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Remember the stick slams, all his facial gestures being dissected on the bench, the frustration expressed in his interviews and just his overall displeasure of failing to meet individual expectations coupled with all the losing?
—Scott Powers, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
Previous slams have featured performances from Dominique Thorne (Ironheart), Jerrie Johnson (Harlem), Patrick Walker (Doc), and Lisa Arrindell (Madea’s Family Reunion).
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
One of Denver’s most athletic players, Braun also amassed 94 dunks last season, continuing to assemble an impressive poster collection with memorable slams over the likes of Rudy Gobert and Brook Lopez.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
After helping a few fire victims, a burst of flame slams Sean through a glass door, landing him in the hospital.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
These radio waves are produced when an outflow of material slams into gas that surrounds the black hole.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Sinner and Alcaraz have won the last eight slams with a perfect split of 4-4.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Back at the table, Stacey slams Tia for continuing to bring up the issue.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
But dropping the gloves can feel like an exasperating last act born of desperation and hopelessness - a door that slams behind you, leaves you in the dark and seldom reopens.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Trump slams Mamdani after primary win Mamdani’s primary victory shocked the political establishment and excited progressives.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Continue reading … HOLLYWOOD RAGE – Filmmaker slams Trump as 'narcissistic a-------,' warns of looming environmental threat.
—FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
In the clip, Kaufman hands Beer all the remnants of their relationship in a box and slams the door in her face.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2025
Scientists have always assumed that when this stellar ejecta violently slams into dense gas surrounding the dying star, known as the circumstellar medium, this generates narrow emission lines in the light or spectra seen from Type II supernovas.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Jamaica reels after Hurricane Melissa slams into the island, severely damaging roads and hospitals.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Comedian Bill Maher suggests New York City Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani should renounce his Ugandan dual citizenship over the country’s record on LGBTQ+ rights, and slams the democratic candidate for his recent meeting with a New York Imam, also criticized for his stance on gay rights.
—The Hill, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
The league was designed to have four slams, or meets, with six event categories in which athletes could race for points and money.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Remember the stick slams, all his facial gestures being dissected on the bench, the frustration expressed in his interviews and just his overall displeasure of failing to meet individual expectations coupled with all the losing?
—Scott Powers, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
Previous slams have featured performances from Dominique Thorne (Ironheart), Jerrie Johnson (Harlem), Patrick Walker (Doc), and Lisa Arrindell (Madea’s Family Reunion).
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
One of Denver’s most athletic players, Braun also amassed 94 dunks last season, continuing to assemble an impressive poster collection with memorable slams over the likes of Rudy Gobert and Brook Lopez.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
After helping a few fire victims, a burst of flame slams Sean through a glass door, landing him in the hospital.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
These radio waves are produced when an outflow of material slams into gas that surrounds the black hole.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Sinner and Alcaraz have won the last eight slams with a perfect split of 4-4.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slams
Verb
-
Yam Yam shuts him down with ease because smack talk is simply not one of Michael’s strengths.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Continue reading … POLITICS NO ENTRY ZONE – Israel shuts door on Turkey in Gaza as Trump praises Erdogan, plays down clash.—
,
FOXNews.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Boston Blue slaps a fresh coat of paint on Blue Bloods, the CBS procedural that ended its 14-season run last year.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Speaking with Cocoa Butter about her most memorable roles, Calloway revealed that the moment Ike slaps Jackie came across so emotional and raw because the stunt went wrong.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Molochnikov’s Extremist, backed by Ben Stiller and John Lesher, is a resonant anti-war short that shows what happens when activism collides with an authoritarian regime that suppresses human rights and other freedoms.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Neuralink’s big vision collides with reality When Neuralink poached a top FDA regulator who was previously responsible for overseeing the company, the move resurfaced long-standing questions about the organization, led by 2025 main character Elon Musk.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the Hindu, local eyewitnesses have said that the elephant attacks mostly at night while people are sleeping, and residents have been using firecrackers and patrol teams to keep the animal away from heavily populated areas.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Russia attacks Ukraine with new Oreshnik ballistic missile Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with a new hypersonic ballistic missile, an advanced weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, 35 people were also treated at the scene and in hospitals for various injuries, such as lacerations, blows and scrapes, Crónica reported.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The fourth quarter was a wild one, with each team trading blows.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The joyous screams and claps of hundreds of high school students boomed outside the sanctuary at Murewa Centre Mission of the United Methodist Church.—
Liam Adams,
Nashville Tennessean,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Stewart said to massive claps from the audience.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some of those people have been arrested directly by ICE agents while others have been arrested by other law enforcement agencies, placed on immigration holds within county jails and then arrested by ICE while being held.—
Juan Cordoba,
Arkansas Online,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Stewart visited three county jails in 2024 and found major lapses in medical and mental health care.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Blockers and tacklers were also forbidden from moving until the ball was caught, or touched the ground, reducing the number of full-speed collisions.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
-
As satellite constellations grow, global cooperation is essential to avoid collisions and ensure effective space traffic management.—
Alexander Görlach,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slams. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
