1
as in to shatter
to cause to break with violence and much noise
the drunken guest deliberately smashed a glass against the brick fireplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to demolish
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
the firecracker smashed the clay pot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
the invading troops smashed the resistance and went on to conquer the country
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4
as in to bump
to come into usually forceful contact with something
we nearly smashed into each other on the skating rink
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things
the awful smash when his dreams got hit by reality
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2
as in crash
the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact
the sound of the smash made all of the bystanders immediately whip their heads around
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3
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
she gave the tennis ball a smash and sent it flying over the other side of the net
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4
as in bang
a loud explosive sound
the bikes collided with a huge smash
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5
as in hit
a person or thing that is successful
the new Broadway musical is a smash
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of smash
Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
One item of note on display is a blue electric guitar that Bradley Nowell smashed during a live performance.
—Richard Guzman, Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The novel became a smash hit, staying on The New York Times' bestseller list for more than 64 weeks and remaining in hardcover for three years.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smash
Verb
The most popular origin story involves Theia—a Mars-sized protoplanet—smashing into the primordial proto-Earth, with the debris from both bodies quickly coalescing into the moon.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
One item of note on display is a blue electric guitar that Bradley Nowell smashed during a live performance.
—Richard Guzman, Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
The Highlanders’ Miles Scott followed with a smash between first and second base.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The novel became a smash hit, staying on The New York Times' bestseller list for more than 64 weeks and remaining in hardcover for three years.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smash
Verb
-
In this case, the arc of the season was primed for Batula to be the victim rising from the ashes of her divorce, only for her recent romantic indiscretions to shatter that fantasy.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
-
March 2026 was a historic month for temperatures in the United States, fueled by an extraordinary and prolonged heat wave that shattered temperature records across much of the West, according to a new report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chappaquiddick would have demolished the career of most, but not Ted, and not in Kennedy country.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Last fall, a portion of the White House East Wing was demolished to make way for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Toxins build up and start to destroy the kidneys and liver.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Renowned for its beauty and ability to attract butterflies, butterfly bush (Buddleia) can spread quickly and outcompete and destroy native plants.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific recently bumped fuel surcharges by roughly 34% across all routes, while Air India on Monday added up to $280 in fees to some flights.—
Rio Yamat,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Craft Sake Shoten is an intimate, unpretentious place to deepen your sake knowledge while bumping shoulders with incredibly friendly locals.—
Kim Kay,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The near collision comes less than a month after a fatal crash took place between an Air Canada flight and a firetruck at New York's LaGuardia Airport in late March.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The collision resulted in serious injuries to the motorcyclist.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 1949, Hogan was famously involved in a near-fatal car crash with a bus near El Paso.—
Mac Engel
April 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Nastiness can be framed as a function of mourning a loved one, as with Dorinda’s rants on RHONY; or despair over personal crises, as with RHOC star Shannon Beador’s DUI and car crash.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Former South Suburban Council board member David Walano said the loss of the licenses represented a massive blow to the organization.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
That theory took a big blow to the noggin in March.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Between the catapults, slides and cranes, there are plenty of opportunities for the kind of crash-and-bang fun that young kids love.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Fully committing to the look, Grande's hair also featured a deep side part and soft baby bangs that barely grazed her forehead.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smash. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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