as in pounding
Related Words
Relevance
1
as in drawing
to shape with a hammer
medieval artisans hammered brass into various bowls and trays, which they then embossed with elaborate designs
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
hammer a nail hammered the ball for a home run
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
tried hammering the door to wake them up the crops were hammered with hail
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in scolding
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
the critics have long been hammering the stage actress for resorting to the same mixed bag of mannerisms over and over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hammering
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
In non-CinemaCon news, the looksmaxx influencer managed to unite the internets in mocking his dew-eyed meltdown and interview walk-off over being asked modestly difficult questions about his reputation (instead of being asked, say, which moisturizer is best for post-jaw hammering).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
Every golfer knows the feeling — standing over a shot that matters, heart hammering, hands fighting to stay steady.
—Ryan Brennan
april 14, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
An abduction sequence ties the audience’s nerves in knots with cinematographer Isaac Bauman’s athletic tracking shot loping up the stairs to Margot’s apartment accompanied by Gavin Brivik’s pulse-hammering score.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Yes, Super Mario Galaxy Movie will have all the hammering power of Imax and PLF screens.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Ronnie Moyers heard the bird hammering in the woods one morning in late February, several weeks before the species usually shows up in Virginia’s western highlands.
—Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2026
But the midfielder may get the chance to assist his team’s daunting assignment in overhauling their first-leg 6-1 hammering by Bayern in Munich.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Baupost Group’s Seth Klarman picked up Amazon in the fourth quarter, a bet that has yet to work out for the value investor this year as tech stocks take a hammering.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Workers and technicians are hammering away in preparation for the return of Blue Man Group to Orlando, right down to the placement and pounding of PVC pipes, one of the ensemble’s distinctive musical instruments.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
The clips are exactly the kind of thing that stops a scroll — a tiny horse hammering away at piano keys while a kid in a hospital bed lights up.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Different kinds of worries about AI have been hammering software companies, centered on the risk that their businesses may become obsolete.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
This time, the sound of hammering rain told her that trouble was coming.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Rice went on to play a key part in the Yankees’ series-sweeping win that night, hammering a two-run double but also making a few key plays at first.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
Ever since then, hitting coaches Brady Anderson and John Mabry have been hammering Neto with a message.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
Beehiiv is attempting to cut into Substack’s large creator base by hammering the point that its flat-fee model can be more favorable to certain people.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
The tap-tap-tap hammering up and down my spine and around my shoulder blades actually soothed me nearly to sleep.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
In non-CinemaCon news, the looksmaxx influencer managed to unite the internets in mocking his dew-eyed meltdown and interview walk-off over being asked modestly difficult questions about his reputation (instead of being asked, say, which moisturizer is best for post-jaw hammering).
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
Every golfer knows the feeling — standing over a shot that matters, heart hammering, hands fighting to stay steady.
—Ryan Brennan
april 14, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
An abduction sequence ties the audience’s nerves in knots with cinematographer Isaac Bauman’s athletic tracking shot loping up the stairs to Margot’s apartment accompanied by Gavin Brivik’s pulse-hammering score.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Yes, Super Mario Galaxy Movie will have all the hammering power of Imax and PLF screens.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Ronnie Moyers heard the bird hammering in the woods one morning in late February, several weeks before the species usually shows up in Virginia’s western highlands.
—Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2026
But the midfielder may get the chance to assist his team’s daunting assignment in overhauling their first-leg 6-1 hammering by Bayern in Munich.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Baupost Group’s Seth Klarman picked up Amazon in the fourth quarter, a bet that has yet to work out for the value investor this year as tech stocks take a hammering.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
Most locks resist common workarounds, such as sawing, hammering or prying with a crowbar.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Workers and technicians are hammering away in preparation for the return of Blue Man Group to Orlando, right down to the placement and pounding of PVC pipes, one of the ensemble’s distinctive musical instruments.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
The clips are exactly the kind of thing that stops a scroll — a tiny horse hammering away at piano keys while a kid in a hospital bed lights up.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Different kinds of worries about AI have been hammering software companies, centered on the risk that their businesses may become obsolete.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
This time, the sound of hammering rain told her that trouble was coming.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Rice went on to play a key part in the Yankees’ series-sweeping win that night, hammering a two-run double but also making a few key plays at first.
—Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
Ever since then, hitting coaches Brady Anderson and John Mabry have been hammering Neto with a message.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
Beehiiv is attempting to cut into Substack’s large creator base by hammering the point that its flat-fee model can be more favorable to certain people.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hammering
Noun
-
Another popular belief is that the pounding of the raindrops on the ground mimics the sound of moles hunting for food, and the worms flee to escape being on the mole’s menu.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Russia’s relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago has killed thousands of civilians.—
Serra Yedikardes,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The court issued a ruling that limits consideration of race in drawing voting maps — potentially a boon for Republicans, who have been hampered by the civil rights law in their attempt to redraw maps in Louisiana, Alabama and other states.—
Matthew Choi,
Washington Post,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Sheriff Susan Hutson became the face of the investigation, giving updates at news conferences and drawing scrutiny over the jail failures.—
Greg Hilburn,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That passion to play every moment to the hilt, along with her powerful hitting stroke, that came with being a coach’s daughter.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Horner told a false story about hitting the little girl with his van and then strangling her in a panic, according to testimony of the case’s lead investigator, Texas Ranger Job Espinoza.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maximilien, a French national, allegedly uploaded a clip of himself licking a straw from an iJooz vending machine before putting it back in the dispenser.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There’s Cassie licking a melting ice cream cone as the ice cream drips down her bare chest.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
First, as the Florida ACLU’s Howard Simon points out, Uthmeier is not scolding another branch of government.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Security guard Pascal Duvier, most recently infamous for allegedly scolding 11-year-old Ada Law at a hotel in São Paulo, is clearing the air.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Arsenal enters the match as the favorite, but Sporting has been resilient in the Champions League, rebounding from a 3-0 loss to tournament darlings Bodo/Glimt with a 5-0 thrashing in Lisbon.—
Pueng Vongs,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His only Champions League goal arrived in January’s 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag, and his only assists in the competition came in similarly comfortable wins over Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If Europe continues forging ahead with the scheme, other countries with a less responsive antitrust framework will likely follow.—
Ike Brannon,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The women speak repeatedly of forging bonds as strong as any between family members and relationships that lasted decades.—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Iranians have been knocking around in the United States’ critical infrastructure for years.—
Sue Halpern,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Serve it at room temperature so the salad on top won't wilt (and the cooking is complete before the guests come knocking).—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hammering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hammering. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
