pulverize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to reduce to dust or powder, as by pounding or grinding.
-
to demolish or crush completely.
-
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
-
to reduce (a substance) to fine particles, as by crushing or grinding, or (of a substance) to be so reduced
-
(tr) to destroy completely; defeat or injure seriously
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
pulverizesimple
-
pulverizessimple
-
have pulverizedperfect
-
has pulverizedperfect
-
are pulverizingprogressive
-
am pulverizingprogressive
-
is pulverizingprogressive
-
have been pulverizingperfect progressive
-
has been pulverizingperfect progressive
Past
-
pulverizedsimple
-
had pulverizedperfect
-
was pulverizingprogressive
-
were pulverizingprogressive
-
had been pulverizingperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
When you pulverize something, you break it up until it becomes dust or powder. You might pulverize coffee beans in a grinder, running it until the coffee turns to powder. Pulvis is the Latin word for "dust." When something is turned into dust, often it becomes useless. That's why pulverize can also mean "to destroy or demolish." Construction crews pulverize a building using wrecking balls and sometimes even explosives. The materials left behind are broken into such small parts that they can't be salvaged for other uses.
Vocabulary lists containing pulverize
The Lightning Thief
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Hatchet
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Among the other highlights of the residency is Pulverize the Sound, a collective featuring Mr. Evans, Tim Dahl on electric bass and Mike Pride on drums, playing an 8 p.m. set on Thursday.
From New York Times • Sep. 17, 2015
"Patriarchal Patriots Sear Seahawks!" and an earlier post: "Sensational Seahawks Pulverize Packers!"
From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2015
Pulverize them in a clean coffee grinder or spice grinder.
From Slate • Dec. 9, 2013
Pulverize the soil well, make the surface smooth and even, and sow in drills twelve or fourteen inches apart and about half an inch deep.
From The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Containing Full Descriptions of Nearly Eleven Hundred Species and Varietes; With Directions for Propagation, Culture and Use. by Burr, Fearing
Pulverize and mix in a quart of soft hot water.
From One Thousand Secrets of Wise and Rich Men Revealed by Bogardus, C. A.
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.
