Word Noun
sledgehammer
n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsɫɛdʒˌhæmɝ/ UK /slˈɛdʒhæmɐ/ sledge·ham·mer UK spelling sledgehammered, sledgehammering, sledgehammers
Definition
n.a heavy hammer with a flat head used for breaking things like stone or ice. It is much heavier than a regular hammer.
n.a heavy hammer with a broad, flat head, typically used for breaking stone, ice, or other hard materials.
Examples
“He used a sledgehammer to break the frozen lock.”
“The construction workers used a sledgehammer to remove the old concrete foundation before starting the new project.”
“While a regular hammer might chip the surface, a sledgehammer is necessary to drive the heavy post deep enough into the frozen ground.”
Real-world usage
“If Canada must retaliate, it needs a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.”
Etymology
Compound of sledge + hammer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated