pulverize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to reduce to dust or powder, as by pounding or grinding.
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to demolish or crush completely.
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Slang. to defeat, hurt badly, or, figuratively, render helpless.
The Kid pulverized Jackson with a series of brutal lefts. He's a veteran nightclub comic who can pulverize any audience in seconds.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to reduce (a substance) to fine particles, as by crushing or grinding, or (of a substance) to be so reduced
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(tr) to destroy completely; defeat or injure seriously
Other Word Forms
- pulverizable adjective
- pulverization noun
- pulverizer noun
- subpulverizer noun
- unpulverized adjective
Etymology
Origin of pulverize
1575–85; < Late Latin pulverizāre to reduce to powder, equivalent to Latin pulver- (stem of pulvis; akin to pollen ) dust + -izāre -ize
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.
Norman’s ability to pulverize the ball off the tee led him to British Open victories in 1986 and 1993, though his near misses were just as memorable.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025
Then they used a grinder to pulverize the frozen sweets into a coarse powder.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2024
Why do pebbles pulverize after they leave the comet?
From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2024
Despite the moving pieces, UW’s offensive line continues to plug, play and pulverize.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2023
I knew she must’ve had a difficult quest, because she didn’t even try to pulverize me.
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
