sledgehammer

American  

[slej-ham-er] / ˈslɛdʒˌhæm ər /

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 British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of sledgehammer

First recorded in 1485–95; sledge ² + hammer

Example Sentences

Characters state the obvious and the dialogue has the delicacy of a sledgehammer.

From Los Angeles Times

Rakes, brooms, sledgehammers, and saws to clean up their streets and yards.

From Literature

“Distributors looked at it and saw a substance and a really big idea, revolving around that wonderful sledgehammer of a line.”

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Literature

Welsh Conservative and chairman of the Senedd's cross party group on shooting and conservation, James Evans, said the proposals were using "a sledgehammer to crack a nut".

From BBC