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

Instead, they are grabbed by giant claw cranes that smash down through the windscreen and lift the vehicles away.

From BBC

Painting Laszlo as some mascot for the self-involved petty bourgeoisie would be easy to do if Berry’s performance didn’t smash all expectations.

From Salon

Liam Payne won 12 MTV EMAs during his time in One Direction, and later used the ceremony to launch his solo career, performing his global smash hit Strip That Down at the 2017 ceremony.

From BBC

He later used the ceremony to launch his solo career, performing his global smash hit Strip That Down at the 2017 ceremony.

From BBC

But the Grammys punted on other easy choices for rock categories — no Dolly Parton for her feel-good ripper “Rockstar,” no Hozier for the streaming smash “Unreal Unearth,” no nod for young guitar god Mk.gee for “Two Star & The Dream Police?”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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