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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smashing
Ian Stokes, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
That comeback was a smashing success.
—Matthew Futterman, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
As racket smashes go, there isn’t much smashing of the racket here.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Ghazali, 41, sat in the parking lot for a few hours on March 12 before smashing his F150 through doors and into the hallway of an early childhood education area, striking a security guard.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smashing
Adjective
The bug-crushing, bot-smashing, democracy-delivering co-op shooter Helldivers 2 celebrated its 2nd birthday back in February, and now developers Arrowhead Game Studios have revealed the stats on our efforts to deliver freedom across the galaxy over the past 365 days.
—Ian Stokes, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
That comeback was a smashing success.
—Matthew Futterman, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
The start of its third act wobbles a bit, but the filmmakers provide a smashing ending that holds hope there will be more adventures to follow.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
As racket smashes go, there isn’t much smashing of the racket here.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Runyan said Ghazali sat in the parking lot for a few hours before smashing his pickup through closed doors and into the hallway of an early childhood education area, striking a security guard.
—CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Ghazali, 41, sat in the parking lot for a few hours on March 12 before smashing his F150 through doors and into the hallway of an early childhood education area, striking a security guard.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smashing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smashing
Adjective
-
Ditching her signature light brown, mid-length hair, Hadid debuted a striking blonde pixie cut.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The companies are actively seeking to replace striking crew.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Yes, Super Mario Galaxy Movie will have all the hammering power of Imax and PLF screens.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Ronnie Moyers heard the bird hammering in the woods one morning in late February, several weeks before the species usually shows up in Virginia’s western highlands.—
Sarah Kaplan,
Washington Post,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But customers should not expect earth-shattering menu changes.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
-
With large hailstones capable of shattering windshields and denting vehicles, meteorologists are urging residents to move cars into garages, covered parking areas or sheltered spots.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Plans call for demolishing the three-story former office building on the site and constructing a single-story, 30-foot-tall building containing approximately 26,000 square feet of event space, according to information shared by the village.—
Jennifer Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The city’s long-term plan calls for demolishing the existing facility and replacing it with a new permanent building.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Will Trump adopt Putin-style tactics by destroying power plants or even desalination plants in what could amount to an attack on the beleaguered Iranian people themselves?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In the weeks since, fears of a long-term occupation of southern Lebanon have grown, with Israel moving to establish a buffer zone in the area, leveling homes and destroying bridges over the Litani River, which connects the south to the rest of Lebanon, while taking control of what crossings remain.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then Buttered Popcorn dethroned it in 1998, bumping the cherry classic from its perch.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The coaching staff and team members all jumped around on the sideline in celebration, with players chest bumping Mullins, and coach Dan Hurley had an interaction with a referee that went viral and brought backlash.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Launching a plane into space and then landing it on a runway with all the crew remaining in there still feels technologically impressive.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
7 Apr. 2026
-
That’s impressive production for the 6-foot-2, 234-pound defender.—
Mike Kaye
April 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His preferred genre was hardstyle—frantic thumping remixes of pop songs by the likes of Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Through this lens, Slater’s downfall at DOJ is less an ideological thumping than a mundane drama of personality and personnel fights.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smashing. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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