battering ram

American

noun

an ancient military device with a heavy horizontal ram for battering down walls, gates, etc.
any of various similar devices, usually machine-powered, used in demolition, by police and firefighters to force entrance to a building, etc.

battering ram British

noun

(esp formerly) a large beam used to break down the walls or doors of fortifications

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of battering ram

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

battering ram

Internet access took a battering ram to information’s door, sending dizzying amounts of data our way overnight.

From Salon ● May 30, 2026

Most humans would rather be a doormat than a battering ram, regardless of the urgency or circumstance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2025

While leaning on a partner for support during the holidays is natural and even healthy, using them as an emotional battering ram is not.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 22, 2025

Henry was a battering ram for Baltimore last season; on Sunday he was barely a blip with 33 yards on 15 carries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025

It was going to be a long march to Redwall, burdened as they were with the battering ram and all the paraphernalia of destruction.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023