Word
sledgehammer
Phoneticssledge·ham·mer, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɫɛdʒˌhæmɝ/
UK/slˈɛdʒhæmɐ/
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.”
Examples
simple
“He used a sledgehammer to break the frozen lock.”
contextual
“The construction workers used a sledgehammer to remove the old concrete foundation before starting the new project.”
complex
“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 Examples
“The 34-year-old Golovkin looked rattled in the third as he missed with some sledgehammer shots, although he landed enough to leave Brook's right eye swollen.” “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.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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