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 byup ).

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. 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. to go bankrupt

9. 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

Other Word Forms

• smashable 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

Its broad surface allowed me to smash garlic and ginger and let me transfer chopped food quickly from the cutting board to a pot.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then you smash a couple of packets of instant ramen and mix the bits into the dough with the contents of their seasoning packets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As a player, he set the record for the fastest century in Test history, smashing 100 runs for New Zealand off just 54 balls.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

After the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, some reformers called to “build schools, smash temples.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Maldonado and Hernandez were smashing windows and pounding on the door when officers showed up and arrested them, the man testified.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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