sledgehammer

American  

[slej-ham-er] / ˈslɛdʒˌhæm ər /

noun

1. a large heavy hammer wielded with both hands.

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verb (used with or without object)

sledgehammers, present (3rd person singular) sledgehammered, past participle, past sledgehammering present participle

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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has sledgehammered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have sledgehammered
  perfect
• have been sledgehammering
  perfect progressive
• has been sledgehammering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are sledgehammering
  progressive
• am sledgehammering
  progressive 1st person singular
• sledgehammering
  participle
• sledgehammers
  singular 3rd person
• is sledgehammering
  progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had sledgehammered
  perfect
• were sledgehammering
  progressive plural
• was sledgehammering
  progressive singular
• had been sledgehammering
  perfect progressive
• sledgehammered
  simple
• sledgehammered
  participle

Future

• will sledgehammer
  simple
• will have sledgehammered
  perfect
• will be sledgehammering
  progressive
• will have been sledgehammering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of sledgehammer

First recorded in 1485–95; sledge ² + hammer

Example Sentences

Mike Rigby described the restrictions as "a sledgehammer to crack a nut".

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

If we encounter any ice, we have an ice pick or sledgehammer.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

“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 • Jan. 16, 2026

It gutted me seeing my children bent over, racked with sobs from the sledgehammer blow of disbelief and heartbreak at the sight of their home lying before them in ashes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

Down the hall, a builder my dad's age but musclier had a sledgehammer in one hand and a chisel in the other.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell