jawbreaker

[jaw-brey-ker]

noun

1. Informal.,  a word that is hard to pronounce.

   real jawbreakers like "antidisestablishmentarianism" or "antiangiogenic."

2. a very hard, usually round, candy.

3. 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.

jawbreaker

/ ˈdʒɔːˌbreɪkə /

noun

1. Also called: jawcrusher. a device having hinged jaws for crushing rocks and ores

2. informal,  a word that is hard to pronounce

Other Word Forms

• jawbreaking adjective
• jawbreakingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of jawbreaker¹

First recorded in 1830–40; jaw ¹ + breaker ¹

Example Sentences

“I always describe the bags as being like beautiful white jawbreakers with saccharine colors all over them,” says Liana Satenstein, 35, a writer who focuses on the vintage market.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Most people give little thought to Earth’s deep interior, thinking of our home planet as simple nested layers, like a jawbreaker hard candy.

Read more on Washington Post

“You could get the giant jawbreaker, the one the size of a tennis ball, and you’d have it for a year.”

Read more on New York Times

I feel like such a baby about the jawbreaker lump in my throat that feels like it’s gonna dissolve and spill outta my eyes in liquid form.

Read more on Literature

I see those floppy ears and jawbreaker eyes and I’m a puddle of hot bone broth, like anyone else.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• sweet