pulverize

[ puhl-vuh-rahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, pul·ver·ized, pul·ver·iz·ing.

1. to reduce to dust or powder, as by pounding or grinding.
2. to demolish or crush completely.
3. Slang. to defeat, hurt badly, or, figuratively, render helpless:

   The Kid pulverized Jackson with a series of brutal lefts. He's a veteran nightclub comic who can pulverize any audience in seconds.

verb (used without object)

, pul·ver·ized, pul·ver·iz·ing.

1. to become reduced to dust.

pulverize

/ ˈpʌlvəˌraɪz /

verb

1. to reduce (a substance) to fine particles, as by crushing or grinding, or (of a substance) to be so reduced
2. tr to destroy completely; defeat or injure seriously

Derived Forms

• ˈpulverˌizer, noun
• ˌpulveriˈzation, noun
• ˈpulverˌizable, adjective

Other Words From

• pulver·iza·ble adjective
• pulver·i·zation noun
• pulver·izer noun
• sub·pulver·izer noun
• un·pulver·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pulverize¹

1575–85; < Late Latin pulverizāre to reduce to powder, equivalent to Latin pulver- (stem of pulvis; akin to pollen ) dust + -izāre -ize

Word History and Origins

Origin of pulverize¹

C16: from Late Latin pulverizare or French pulvériser, from Latin pulverum, from pulvis dust

Example Sentences

With a pulverized sample from scraping the inner walls of the vase, the team combined numerous analytical techniques for the first time to uncover what the mug last held.

From Science Daily

Mohammad Afif, spokesman for Hezbollah, whose leadership has been pulverized in days of Israeli airstrikes, said the Iranian-backed group was prepared to mount a fierce resistance to the invasion despite its losses.

From Los Angeles Times

Then they used a grinder to pulverize the frozen sweets into a coarse powder.

From Los Angeles Times

But also seared into survivors’ memories in Normandy are massive Allied bombing raids that pulverized towns, villages and the cities of Caen, Rouen and Le Havre, burying victims and turning skies fire-red.

From Seattle Times

Analysis of the erupted ash revealed it was likely pulverized rocks from the crater walls or reservoir, not fresh bits of molten rock as would be expected in a magmatic blast.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• annihilate
• decimate
• demolish
• flatten
• shatter
• vanquish
• vaporize