crashing

American  

[krash-ing] / ˈkræʃ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. absolute; complete; utter.

   a crashing bore.

2. unusual or superlative; exceptional.

   a crashing celebration.

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crashing British  

/ ˈkræʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. informal (prenominal) (intensifier) (esp in the phrase a crashing bore )

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Other Word Forms

• crashingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of crashing

First recorded in 1925–30; crash ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

When I visited Havana again this spring to report on the mounting crisis, the malecón was deserted, strewn with brown seaweed that had been flung from the ocean by crashing waves.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

So investors who were “overhedged for chaos” have sent prices of put options, or bets on markets going lower, crashing and big investors racing to cover bearish positions on stocks.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

The new information age didn’t stop the market built on margin loans from crashing down in October 1929, six weeks after the Dow’s high.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

A software bug that was capable of crashing an operating system used by firewalls, servers and network appliances went undetected for over 27 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Sunbursts of red and blue crashing one after the other.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller