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jawbreaker

[ jaw-brey-ker ]
/ ˈdʒɔˌbreɪ kər /
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noun
Informal. a word that is hard to pronounce: real jawbreakers like "antidisestablishmentarianism" or "antiangiogenic."
a very hard, usually round, candy.
Also called jaw crusher. Mining. a machine used to break up ore, consisting of a fixed plate and a hinged jaw moved by a toggle joint.
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Origin of jawbreaker

First recorded in 1830–40; jaw1 + breaker1

OTHER WORDS FROM jawbreaker

jawbreaking, adjectivejaw·break·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use jawbreaker in a sentence

  • Now an' then, when there's too many yawnin' to once in the congregation, Parson'll out with a reg'lar jaw-breaker to wake 'em up.

    The Story Of Waitstill Baxter|By Kate Douglas Wiggin
  • That's a real jaw-breaker, Namesake, and means one who knows everything about all sorts of birds—or thinks he does.

  • In fact, she almost did forget them once or twice at moments when Janet McFadden was busy sucking the jaw-breaker.

British Dictionary definitions for jawbreaker

jawbreaker
/ (ˈdʒɔːˌbreɪkə) /

noun
Also called: jawcrusher a device having hinged jaws for crushing rocks and ores
informal a word that is hard to pronounce

Derived forms of jawbreaker

jawbreaking, adjectivejawbreakingly, adverb
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
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