slamming

[slam-ing]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR slamming ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Informal.

the switching of a customer's long-distance telephone company or other public utility without his or her authorization.

Origin of slamming

1990–95; slam¹ + -ing¹

slam

[slam]

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.

Origin of slam

1650–60; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish slamra to slam

Related formsun·slammed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for slamming

smash, bat, hit, knock, beat, fling, slap, dash, swat, bang, batter, hurl, strike, crash, blast, belt, shut, pound, thwack, cudgel

Examples from the Web for slamming

Contemporary Examples of slamming

Waking briefly a few times throughout the night, I heard sounds, voices, slamming doors.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything
Liz Seccuro
December 16, 2014
Det. 2: (slamming his hand on the table and yelling) You hung her!
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities
Elizabeth Picciuto
December 16, 2014
If the Texas senator runs for president, this is how the campaign begins—by slamming the man currently in the White House.
In Texas, Cruz, Perry Crow Over GOP Rout
Tim Mak
November 5, 2014
Stanley then went on to praise Curry after slamming her, a technique she would later use in her Rhimes piece.
A Sexism Problem at The New York Times
Keli Goff
September 23, 2014
Last weekend, the cattiest of Hollande's ministers went a step too far, slamming France's economic policy, and was finally ousted.
This Scary-Smart New Minister of Economy Might Just Turn France Around
Tracy McNicoll
August 31, 2014

Historical Examples of slamming

Afterward his uncle came in a fierce humor, slamming the door.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
A hatch stood open there, and he dropped through, slamming it after him.
In the Orbit of Saturn
Roman Frederick Starzl
Primmie departed, slamming the door and muttering indignation.
Galusha the Magnificent
Joseph C. Lincoln
Then he went into the kitchen, slamming the door with a bang.
The Woman-Haters
Joseph C. Lincoln
He swung his fist heavily, slamming the Martian against the tree.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
Various

British Dictionary definitions for slamming

slam

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

slam

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

slam

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

Word Origin and History for slamming

slam

n.1

1670s, "a severe blow," probably from a Scandinavian source (cf. Norwegian slamre, Swedish slemma "to slam, bang") of imitative origin. Meaning "a violent closing of a door" is from 1817. Meaning "an insult, put-down" is from 1884. Slam-bang recorded by 1806 (also slap-bang, 1785). Slam-dunk is from 1976; early use often in reference to Julius Erving. Slam-dance is attested by 1987 (slam by itself in this sense is recorded from 1983).

slam

n.2

"a winning of all tricks in a card game," 1660s, earlier the name of a card game (also called ruff), 1620s, used especially in whist, of obscure origin. Grand slam in bridge first recorded 1892; earlier in related card games from 1814; figurative sense of "complete success" is attested from 1920; in baseball sense from 1935.

slam

1690s, "to beat, slap;" 1775 as "to shut with force," from slam (n.1). Meaning "throw or push with force" is from 1870. Meaning "say uncomplimentary things about" is from 1916. Related: Slammed; slamming.