Smash: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when talking about breaking something violently into pieces or winning something by a very large margin.

• He smashed the vase in anger.
• They smashed the record by finishing the race in under two hours.

Often used to describe completely dominating or destroying something or someone, sometimes with a slightly negative connotation.

• The machine can crush large rocks into small stones.
• They crushed the visiting team, scoring five goals in the first half.

Use this word when you want to describe winning against someone or something in a more formal or official context.

• They managed to defeat the champions in a close match.
• The army defeated the rebels after a long battle.

This word is suitable for situations where you overcome someone in a competition or physical confrontation.

• She beat her opponent in the finals.
• You will need to practice a lot if you want to beat him in chess.

This word describes defeating someone by a large margin and often has a slightly informal tone.

• The home team trounced their rivals with a score of 6-0.
• She trounced her competitors in the spelling bee.

The repetition of this word likely implies its versatile use in contexts like music, culture, and entertainment, where it describes something that is a big hit or very successful.

• The band's latest single was a smash hit.
• The movie was a smash success, breaking box office records.

Used across various sports to describe a shot executed with a lot of force. Unlike 'smash', it doesn't necessarily imply a downward motion but emphasizes the strength and speed of the shot.

• He scored the winning goal with an incredible power shot from outside the box.
• Her power shot left the goalkeeper completely helpless.

Typically used in racquet sports and sometimes in martial arts and first-person shooter video games, this term describes a shot or strike intended to decisively end a play, rally, or match. It has a more aggressive connotation and suggests finality.

• She went for a kill shot, ending the game with a stunning display of skill.
• In the final moments of the game, he took a kill shot to secure victory.