slam

[ slam ]

/ slæm /

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See synonyms for: slam / slammed / slamming on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object), slammed, slam·ming.

to shut with force and noise: to slam the door.

to dash, strike, knock, thrust, throw, slap down, etc., with violent and noisy impact: He slammed his books upon the table.

Informal. to criticize harshly; attack verbally: He slammed my taste mercilessly.

noun

a violent and noisy closing, dashing, or impact.

the noise so made.

Usually the slam .Slang. slammer (def. 2).

Informal. a harsh criticism; verbal attack: I am sick of your slams.

Informal.

Also called poetry slam . a competitive, usually boisterous poetry reading.
a usually competitive performance involving multiple performers with short acts: puppet slams; a tap dance slam.

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Origin of slam

First recorded in 1650–60; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish slamra “to bang (a door), slam”

OTHER WORDS FROM slam

un·slammed, adjective

Other definitions for slam (2 of 2)

slam²

[ slam ]

/ slæm /

noun Cards.

the winning or bidding of all the tricks or all the tricks but one in a deal.Compare grand slam (def. 1), little slam.

an old type of card game associated with ruff.

Origin of slam

First recorded in 1660–70; perhaps special use of slam¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use slam in a sentence

Risen recently slammed President Obama as “the greatest enemy to press freedom in a generation.”
Does Tom Cotton Still Want to Jail Journalists?|Asawin Suebsaeng|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She slammed the media, saying the coverage has been scant and inaccurate.
Defying Stereotypes, Young Muslim Writers Find Community Onstage|Julianne Chiaet|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“My film got slammed with an NC-17 for a scene of ‘suggested’ oral sex,” wrote Kramer.
Oral Sex Comes of Age in Hollywood: ‘Gone Girl’ the Latest Film to Showcase Female Pleasure|Marlow Stern|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But feminist critics have slammed the video for promoting sexual violence.
Sex, Blood and Maroon 5: Pop Culture’s Wounds Run Deep|Lizzie Crocker|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Even apologist Greg Gutfeld slammed this so-called apology tour.
The Fox News Apology Tour|Dean Obeidallah|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With that cryptic message she ran back to the door, which was immediately slammed behind her.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Number 27 slammed his door with that degree of violence which indicates a stout arm and an easy conscience.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
Hamilcar Jones was not at the moment visible, because he was behind the door, which he slammed shut and locked.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
Slammed over against the bar, Lamb had a split-second glimpse of it.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
And with one foot on the running board, he was slammed to the ground hard, rolling his head against a tree.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

British Dictionary definitions for slam (1 of 3)

slam¹

/ (slæm) /

verb slams, slamming or slammed

to cause (a door or window) to close noisily and with force or (of a door, etc) to close in this way

(tr) to throw (something) down noisily and violently

(tr) slang to criticize harshly

(intr; usually foll by into or out of) informal to go (into or out of a room, etc) in violent haste or anger

(tr) to strike with violent force

(tr) informal to defeat easily

noun

the act or noise of slamming

slang harsh criticism or abuse

Word Origin for slam

C17: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse slamra, Norwegian slemma, Swedish dialect slämma

British Dictionary definitions for slam (2 of 3)

slam²

/ (slæm) /

noun

the winning of all (grand slam) or all but one (little slam or small slam) of the 13 tricks at bridge or whist
the bid to do so in bridgeSee grand slam, little slam

an old card game

Word Origin for slam

C17: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for slam (3 of 3)

slam³

/ (slæm) /

noun

a poetry contest in which entrants compete with each other by reciting their work and are awarded points by the audience

Word Origin for slam

C20: origin unknown

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

slam

Origin of slam

OTHER WORDS FROM slam

Other definitions for slam (2 of 2)

Origin of slam

Words related to slam

How to use slam in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slam (1 of 3)

Word Origin for slam

British Dictionary definitions for slam (2 of 3)

Word Origin for slam

British Dictionary definitions for slam (3 of 3)

Word Origin for slam