as in striking
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Dissimilar Words
as in hammering
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in shattering
to cause to break with violence and much noise
the drunken guest deliberately smashed a glass against the brick fireplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smashing
Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 8 Jan. 2024
Director Zi Alikhan keeps the proceedings lively, not least with a smashing dance sequence choreographed by Ambika Raina, also the show’s associate director.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2023
Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Most of the smashing is done by Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd by birth, who rises to the peaks of power, lays waste to one kingdom after another, and has the temerity, at the climax of Part 1, not to die.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Ed Silverman, STAT, 26 Jan. 2026
Typical 30-minute sessions cost between £35 and £70, although some slots can rise to £200, depending on the size of the room and the number of items up for smashing.
—Will Barker, TheWeek, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smashing
Adjective
United Launch Alliance On Monday morning, the new Vulcan rocket made a smashing debut, launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and performing flawlessly.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 8 Jan. 2024
Director Zi Alikhan keeps the proceedings lively, not least with a smashing dance sequence choreographed by Ambika Raina, also the show’s associate director.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2023
Noun
As the trailer promises, those threats — whether of the high-flying, head-smashing, fiery, toothy or mysterious variety — will leave audiences on the edge of their seats, and holding onto their butts.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Most of the smashing is done by Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd by birth, who rises to the peaks of power, lays waste to one kingdom after another, and has the temerity, at the climax of Part 1, not to die.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Hope your day is simply smashing and, as always, do keep in touch if something saucy arises.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 26 Jan. 2026
Typical 30-minute sessions cost between £35 and £70, although some slots can rise to £200, depending on the size of the room and the number of items up for smashing.
—Will Barker, TheWeek, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smashing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smashing
Adjective
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One of the most striking demonstrations involved encoding an image of the Mona Lisa into the smart skin.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
While the extremely volatile cryptocurrency has been put through the wringer on several occasions over the years, the decline comes at a striking moment.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Eric Freeny blocked Smith, Bilodeau grabbed the loose ball and threw an outlet to Dailey for a hammering dunk.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, Moscow has kept up its hammering of Ukraine’s energy grid in overnight attacks that killed at least two people, according to Ukrainian officials.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This set from the Good Grips collection is made of borosilicate glass, which is food-safe like standard glass, but also more resistant to heat—meaning it can be taken out of the freezer and popped straight into the microwave to reheat leftovers without shattering.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Both films feature an early phone call which is clearly shattering for their characters.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Crews are demolishing Westport infrastructure to construct an underground storage basin to hold water that previously would have flooded Westport buildings.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
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On Thursday morning, crews were nearly finished demolishing the adjacent structures, one of which was damaged by a fire in March 2024.—
Thomas Gounley,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Modesto Fire Department Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire, preventing it from destroying the home, officials said.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
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By the way, the last scene of The Conversation has the paranoid Gene Hackman destroying his apartment in a desperate and futile search for listening devices.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This project is focused on bumping the agency’s operations to include 30 ten-car trains per hour, or more than 300 additional railcars total, alongside other improvements such as a new control system, a new railcar storage yard in Hayward and adding more power substations to improve service.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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But Highway 61 remains a destination for travelers bumping the long way around the Americana Music Triangle between New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville.—
Joe Sills,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Bieniemy could inject some new ideas after an impressive stint as running backs coach under Ben Johnson for the Chicago Bears who ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards while winning their division during Bieniemy’s only year there.—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Snow, sleet and ice totals have been impressive, ranging from 1 to 5 inches.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Six different players scored in a 7-0 thumping of a surging Needham group — with three goals coming from the third line.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
My nights were filled with the thumping of someone else’s dirty clothes and the feeling of something skittering across my leg.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smashing. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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