sledgehammer

[ slej-ham-er ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a large heavy hammer wielded with both hands.

verb (used with or without object)

to hammer, beat, or strike with or as if with a sledgehammer.

adjective

crudely or ruthlessly forceful; lacking all dexterity or grace:
the artist's sledgehammer approach.

sledgehammer

/ ˈ��ɛ��ˌ��æ��ə /

noun

a large heavy hammer with a long handle used with both hands for heavy work such as forging iron, breaking rocks, etc
modifier resembling the action of a sledgehammer in power, ruthlessness, etc
a sledgehammer blow

verb

tr to strike (something) with or as if with a sledgehammer

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Word History and Origins

Origin of sledgehammer¹

First recorded in 1485–95; sledge ² + hammer

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Word History and Origins

Origin of sledgehammer¹

C15 sledge, from Old English slecg a large hammer; related to Old Norse sleggja, Middle Dutch slegge

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Now, wielding a sledgehammer, this president is destroying that promise for this and future generations.”

From

Of course, Maher should be invited back to celebrate that mark and he can once again waste our time telling us how cordial Trump is as he takes a sledgehammer to the pillars of democracy.

From

Prosecutors said police later recovered a bag containing a sledgehammer and other items "identical to those observed in the surveillance at the Governor's residence."

From

Donald Trump strode into the Rose Garden Wednesday with the elegance and subtlety of a sledgehammer.

From

"I can only hope it is a sledgehammer attention-grabbing move which then settles down to more specific targeting in the months ahead," he said.

From

sledge sleek

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