smash

[ smash ]

verb (used with object)

1. to break to pieces with violence and often with a crashing sound, as by striking, letting fall, or dashing against something; shatter:

   He smashed the vase against the wall.

2. to defeat, disappoint, or disillusion utterly.
3. to hit or strike (someone or something) with force.
4. to overthrow or destroy something considered as harmful:

   They smashed the drug racket.

5. to ruin financially:

   The depression smashed him.

   Synonyms: bankrupt

6. Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis. to hit (a ball or shuttlecock) overhead or overhand with a hard downward motion, causing the shot to move very swiftly and to strike the ground or table usually at a sharp angle.

verb (used without object)

1. to break to pieces from a violent blow or collision.
2. to dash with a shattering or crushing force or with great violence; crash (usually followed by against, into, through, etc.).
3. to become financially ruined or bankrupt (often followed by up ).
4. to flatten and compress the signatures of a book in a press before binding.

noun

1. the act or an instance of smashing or shattering.

   Synonyms: crash

2. the sound of such a smash.
3. a blow, hit, or slap.
4. a destructive collision, as between automobiles.
5. a smashed or shattered condition.
6. a process or state of collapse, ruin, or destruction:

   the total smash that another war would surely bring.

7. financial failure or ruin.
8. Informal. smash hit.
9. a drink made of brandy, or other liquor, with sugar, water, mint, and ice.
10. Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis.
    1. an overhead or overhand stroke in which the ball or shuttlecock is hit with a hard, downward motion causing it to move very swiftly and to strike the ground or table usually at a sharp angle.
    2. a ball hit with such a stroke.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or constituting a great success:

   That composer has written many smash tunes.

smash

/ smæʃ /

verb

1. to break into pieces violently and usually noisily
2. whenintr, foll by against, through, into, etc to throw or crash (against) vigorously, causing shattering

   he smashed the equipment

   it smashed against the wall

3. tr to hit forcefully and suddenly
4. tr tennis squash badminton to hit (the ball) fast and powerfully, esp with an overhead stroke
5. tr to defeat or wreck (persons, theories, etc)
6. tr to make bankrupt
7. intr to collide violently; crash
8. introften foll byup to go bankrupt
9. smash someone's face in informal.
   to beat someone severely

noun

1. an act, instance, or sound of smashing or the state of being smashed
2. a violent collision, esp of vehicles
3. a total failure or collapse, as of a business
4. tennis squash badminton a fast and powerful overhead stroke
5. informal.
   1. something having popular success
   2. ( in combination )

      smash-hit

6. slang.
   loose change; coins

adverb

1. with a smash

Derived Forms

• ˈsmashable, adjective

Other Words From

• smasha·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of smash¹

1690–1700; perhaps blend of smack ² and mash ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of smash¹

C18: probably from sm ( ack ² + m ) ash

Synonym Study

See break.

Example Sentences

Kendrick Lamar reveals there’s more to his summer smash ‘Not Like Us’ than throwing shade at Drake as part of their public rap feud earlier this year.

From Los Angeles Times

They can smash someone 4-0, then get hammered themselves the next game.

From BBC

What does smashing the patriarchy, so to speak, have to do with climate change?

From Salon

Lefty Gunplay, a relentless MC from the atypical rap neighborhood of Baldwin Park, has perhaps the shortest cameo on the record — repeating a four-word outro on the smash hit “tv off” in his trademark rasp.

From Los Angeles Times

After an absolute smash at the level of “Not Like Us,” of course Kendrick was going to return to producer Mustard on an album deeply rooted in West Coast lore.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bang
• belt
• blast
• burst
• collide
• crack
• crash
• crush
• demolish
• fracture
• hit
• shatter
• slam
• smash up
• trash