sledgehammer

American  

[slej-ham-er] / ˈslɛdʒˌhæm ər /

noun

1. a large heavy hammer wielded with both hands.

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verb (used with or without object)

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

adjective

1. crudely or ruthlessly forceful; lacking all dexterity or grace.

   the artist's sledgehammer approach.

sledgehammer British  

/ ˈslɛdʒˌhæmə /

noun

1. a large heavy hammer with a long handle used with both hands for heavy work such as forging iron, breaking rocks, etc

2. (modifier) resembling the action of a sledgehammer in power, ruthlessness, etc

   a sledgehammer blow

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verb

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

Etymology

Origin of sledgehammer

First recorded in 1485–95; sledge ² + hammer

Example Sentences

A team of five Sledgehammer developers work on the actual creation of a clothing asset, from concepting, scanning, modeling and creating the look in-game, to review.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2023

The song that closes the album "Testimony" sounds like an like enraged rendition of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer."

From Salon • Aug. 12, 2023

Sledgehammer in hand, he would then apply his full muscle to apples, grapes, lettuce and other produce, most famously the inevitable watermelon, with audience members in front showered in food bits.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2022

Costco PlayStation games to accompany your console Call of Duty: Vanguard $45 $60 25% off Call of Duty: Vanguard is the latest installment in the long-running FPS series, from developer Sledgehammer Games.

From The Verge • Jan. 24, 2022

Wanda's old man is in on it, so's the Weak Sister, meaning Garth, so's a gent name of Sledgehammer Hume.

From The Short Cut by Johnson, Frank Tenney