sledgehammer

[slej-ham-er]

noun

1. a large heavy hammer wielded with both hands.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to hammer, beat, or strike with or as if with a sledgehammer.

adjective

1. crudely or ruthlessly forceful; lacking all dexterity or grace.

   the artist's sledgehammer approach.

sledgehammer

/ ˈslɛdʒˌhæmə /

noun

1. a large heavy hammer with a long handle used with both hands for heavy work such as forging iron, breaking rocks, etc

2. (modifier) resembling the action of a sledgehammer in power, ruthlessness, etc

   a sledgehammer blow

verb

1. (tr) to strike (something) with or as if with a sledgehammer

Word History and Origins

Origin of sledgehammer¹

First recorded in 1485–95; sledge ² + hammer

Word History and Origins

Origin of sledgehammer¹

C15 sledge, from Old English slecg a large hammer; related to Old Norse sleggja, Middle Dutch slegge

Example Sentences

An alleged Palestine Action member attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer, fracturing her back during an organised break-in at an Israeli defence firm, a court heard.

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The thief encountered no resistance as he broke a display case with a sledgehammer and helped himself to around 100 gold Huguenot crosses, according to curator Denis Carbonnier, who saw the security footage.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Over the years, bad men have come with sledgehammers and broken off pieces of Cleo to sell to relic hunters.

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One night in 2019, thieves wielding sledgehammers broke into Blenheim, ripped out the toilet and fled with it, causing flooding issues at the 18th-century home.

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Although parties of the right often are the beneficiaries, voters aren’t always discriminating when they choose between one political sledgehammer or another.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal