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
Doubts cast However, not everyone saw the draft as a smashing success. — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 26 May 2026 Her book was a smashing success, selling half a million copies in its first week. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 21 May 2026
Noun
In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows. — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026 The 17-mile (27 km) long proton-smashing tunnel, running 300 feet (100 m) below the ground near the Swiss-French border, is at the heart of the physics research conducted by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026
Verb
Temperatures are not much better across the San Joaquin Valley and foothills, with highs in the upper 90s and low 100s coming close to smashing records. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026 In video obtained by KTLA-TV, an SUV can be seen traveling along the highway before smashing into another car. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 5 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
  • In addition to the grisly injury, the nearly translucent bone itself makes this evidence even more striking.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Other suites are even more striking, covered from head to toe in a flora wallpaper and bright, colorful custom furniture.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of striking
Noun
  • 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
  • Coastal flooding and hammering winds are already underway from North Carolina and Virginia to New Jersey, the start of a dayslong coastal flood and erosion threat that will extend into New England as the storm ramps up.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of hammering
Verb
  • You’re always getting blindsided by massive, earth-shattering events.
    — Adam B. Vary, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The only trace left of a content shoot earlier in the day is a smidge of smokey eye makeup, while a pair of black, ankle-shattering Jimmy Choo stilettos have been replaced with khaki trainers.
    — Sophie Williams, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • This is not the first time a coach in LAUSD has gotten into trouble trying to improve a facility, with the district issuing disciplinary action and demolishing the improvement because it was not authorized.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • On Thursday, the judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • Hurricane Isaias made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on Saturday, spawning tornadoes, destroying buildings and downing power lines across the Gulf region.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Israeli soldiers filmed themselves in high definition laughing, looting homes, destroying entire rows of buildings, humiliating civilians, even killing them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • 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
  • There can be two women who are strong and dynamic, who are, at points, up against each other or bumping heads, but have the same mission and goal.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of bumping
Adjective
  • That Langley’s song has resonated to this extent without hardly any remixes or chart-boosting gimmicks makes the classic-meets-contemporary song all the more impressive.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Flaco the owl became a celebrity Central Park resident, with breathless news coverage of Flaco’s impressive self-preservation skills and, eventually, mournful obituaries when Flaco died after flying into a building.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of impressive
Noun
  • 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
  • One guy in cargo shorts and a battered Ramones T-shirt kept casting dirty looks at the sky, clearly annoyed at the thumping of the TV news helicopters — there were at least three overhead at all times — drowning out his commentary.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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