smashes 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of smash
1
2
as in demolishes
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 destroys
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

smashes

2 of 2

noun

plural of smash
1
2
as in crashes
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5

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 smashes
Verb
The bamboo smashes into bone and the scene in my mind bursts into a million white pieces. Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026 The parents can be seen in the video rushing toward their children as the car smashes through the fence. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026 That is less than half as many as the set that produced many of his signature smashes and turned him into a chart-topper. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 For now, Paramount isn’t producing the billion-dollar box office smashes that drive millions of butts into theater seats (not to mention robust sales of novelty popcorn buckets). Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026 The oncoming vehicle then smashes into his SUV, the footage shows. Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Following the Oklahoma style, the team smashes Vidalia onions directly into the beef, making the patties superthin, then tops them with brown mustard, American cheese and pickles. Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 1 July 2026 Pele controls the ball in the penalty area with his thigh, flips it over the head of the defender and smashes it past a helpless Kalle Svensson. Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 Here in Fort America, the walls creak, then something smashes onto the roof. Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Noun
Her career count on the former roster recently moved beyond 100 smashes after multiple tracks from No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto debuted last week. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Cinemas are on course for their best financial year since before the coronavirus pandemic, powered by large-scale hits such as The Odyssey and surprise small-budget smashes, particularly Obsession and Backrooms. David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 The track — with its croaking guitar, cymbal smashes, and stuttering vocals — sounds nothing like Brat’s gleaming, clubby gems (or the bouncy pop-punk of her 2014 LP Sucker, for that matter). Caryn Ganz, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smashes
Verb
  • But before any collective exhale can commence, the mood shatters.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Inadvertently, our entry shatters the glass ceiling, since Georgia and I are the only girls there.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • An $8,000 Ryvid Anthem or a $10,000 Maeving RM1S will deliver broadly similar urban usability, while the $12,500 Zero FXE absolutely demolishes it on power-per-dollar.
    Utkarsh Sood June 12, New Atlas, 12 June 2026
  • The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The approval marks another step forward for patients with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare and progressive disease that destroys nerve cells that control speaking, breathing, and walking.
    Ed Silverman, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Among other things, Hinduism reveres femininity through the worship of powerful goddesses, including Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom; Kali, the goddess who destroys evil and ego; and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • At a pivotal moment in the film, Ledger’s Joker positions a pencil on a table, and later slams a man’s head into it.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Hawaii is under a state of emergency as Hurricane Lowell slams the islands with life-threatening rain.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Car insurance covers losses resulting from collisions, theft, fire and other covered incidents.
    Brian Sloan, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers point out that older pedestrians remain more vulnerable to collisions.
    Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Officials suspect two crashes on Interstate 4 that left one woman dead in Orange County may be related, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
    Felix Rodriguez, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The trial is being closely watched for its implications for other fatal high-speed crashes that don't involve drugs or alcohol.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Like his wife, Andrew was also attacked with a hatchet, receiving as many as 11 blows to his face, leaving him nearly unrecognizable, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
    Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Abby was struck 19 times by a hatchet-like object, with several blows crushing through her skull.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The entire gymnasium roared with claps and cheers, the loudest and most fervent applause of the evening.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Golf Channel would always be playing in the background; the soft claps were the soundtrack to our slow Saturdays.
    Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Smashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smashes. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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