smashing 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of smashingnext
as in striking

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smashing

2 of 3

noun

as in hammering

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smashing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of smash
1
as in shattering
to cause to break with violence and much noise the drunken guest deliberately smashed a glass against the brick fireplace

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2
as in demolishing
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive the firecracker smashed the clay pot

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3
as in destroying
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 bumping
to come into usually forceful contact with something we nearly smashed into each other on the skating rink

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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 smashing
Adjective
On this day in 1807, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte signed the second Treaty of Tilsit with Russia and Prussia following his smashing victories at Jena and Friedland. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 July 2026 Doubts cast However, not everyone saw the draft as a smashing success. — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Noun
So, more fringe practices also do, like bone smashing, which has been talked about in the looksmaxxing community. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 At other times, the book embodies an awareness that glass-smashing isn’t in the cards. — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
Having grossed a gargantuan $522 million worldwide (on a slender sub-$1 million production budget), Obsession now stands as this year’s highest profile showcase for cinematic noggin smashing. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026 Just groups of 10 to 15 young men looting stores, burning trash containers and smashing bus stops. — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smashing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smashing
  1. striking
  2. hammering
  3. shattering
  4. demolishing
  5. destroying
  6. bumping
  7. impressive
  8. thumping
Adjective
  • The works include tributes to immigrants and women’s pursuit of justice, giving the serene swimmers on display stories that reach beyond their striking scale.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026
  • For the rare public date night, Jackie wore a scoopneck minidress with a striking vertical print in black and white.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of striking
Noun
  • Neocloud stocks have taken a hammering over the past month, with CoreWeave and Nebius down more than 30% while Iren has tanked 40%.
    — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The butt of the Axvant is designed to double as a mallet, mostly for knocking in tent stakes and taking care of other basic, non-precision hammering.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of hammering
Verb
  • So the biggest question is can Sony change the trajectory of the franchise in terms of Oscar and get the point across that the record-shattering success of this movie is for a reason?
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Misiorowski went 16-5 during the regular season while throwing 1,115 pitches of 100 mph or more for the highest total since tracking started in 2008, shattering the prior mark of 673 by Jordan Hicks in 2018.
    — Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • The row of storefronts between Chili’s and the Apple Cinema has numerous vacancies, and in the spring of 2025 a developer proposed demolishing part of the retail space for large apartment complex.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Trump has focused extensively on White House renovations, including supergluing gold decorations himself in the Oval Office and demolishing the East Wing to make room for the ballroom, the New York Times reported.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • With the European Union banning large companies from destroying unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation as of July, the case for Unspun’s technology becomes more compelling.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The mayor faced voter outrage over the Palisades fire, which broke out in January 2025, destroying thousands of homes and leaving 12 people dead.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • Brady also took issue with a call against Detroit, suggesting Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes didn't deserve an unnecessary roughness flag for bumping running back MarShawn Lloyd after a pass sailed over Lloyd's head.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The Goyard Saint Louis entered the top 10 ranking at number seven, bumping the Celine Ava off the list entirely, according to the report.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of bumping
Adjective
  • The charter school’s impressive test scores are not just narrative, however.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Terance Mann’s buzzer-beating trey eventually capped the impressive first half, which gave the Nets a 17-point advantage.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of impressive
Noun
  • If there is such a thing as sore winners, that perfectly describes the Democratic Party after its coast-to-coast thumping of Republicans and takeover of Congress.
    — Joe Battenfeld The Boston Herald, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
  • And Poe, like all the great spooky writers, never explains the thumping but allows the mystery to linger!
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of thumping

Browse Nearby Words

smashes
smashing
smashup
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Cite this Entry

“Smashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smashing. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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