1
as in to shut
to shove into a closed position with force and noise please don't slam the door every time you step out
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2
as in to knock
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner she slammed the ball deep into center field
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3
as in to bump
to come into usually forceful contact with something the car slammed into the wall with a fearful crunch
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4
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly slammed the cast members for forgetting their lines on opening night
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1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument gave the stubborn nail one last slam with the hammer
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2
as in bang
a loud explosive sound shut the door with a loud slam
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3
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody sported a gang tattoo on his arm that had gotten him plenty of respect in the slam
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4
as in collision
a forceful coming together of two things the sudden slam of my head against the trunk of the car
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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 slam
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026 The school resource officer who body-slammed a girl at West Charlotte High School last year was suspended without pay for excessive force, according to a letter from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to the girl’s family. —Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026 Unlike more formal readings, the slam format creates a space where emotion, performance and audience response unfold in real time. —Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slam
Verb
None of the 109 people on board a ValuJet DC-9 survived Saturday when their plane slammed into the earth west of Miami International Airport. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026 The school resource officer who body-slammed a girl at West Charlotte High School last year was suspended without pay for excessive force, according to a letter from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to the girl’s family. —Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
That slam-dunk of a class with instant contributors allowed the Chiefs to allocate cap space to other needs. —Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026 Unlike more formal readings, the slam format creates a space where emotion, performance and audience response unfold in real time. —Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slam
Verb
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And then the head of the studio saw the dailies and shut it down.— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2026
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Balta then took over in the circle during the second and shut Lincoln-Way West out in five of her six innings.— Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The female actually knocks him down to the ground.— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2026
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High-profile Democrats urged people to call their friends and knock on doors.— Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Five years later, Marquinhos was chest-bumping Thiago Silva, his countryman and mentor at PSG, after forcing Mohamed Salah to run the ball out of play at the Parc des Princes for Liverpool.— Stuart James, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
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Kansas State transfer tight end Brayden Loftin played in 12 personnel looks with the first-team offense, mainly blocking, but bumping out to the slot, too.— Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When Sibomana-Rodriguez was 6 years old and living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he, his cousin and his brother were attacked by a swarm of chimpanzees.— Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
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Be sure that the rear lure always has a hook, as the bass typically key in on the ‘straggler’ when attacking a ball of bait.— Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Sheehan managed to keep the Rockies from landing the big blow.— Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
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The Senate’s quick passage of the 10-day patch was starkly different than the House’s rare overnight session, during which House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was dealt two consecutive blows.— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Johnny Knoxville is sending off the Jackass franchise with a bang… and possibly a few 9-1-1 calls.— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
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Other times, they were woken by loud bangs.— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Since then, at least 34 municipalities in Illinois have passed anti-camping ordinances with enforceable fines and jail time.— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
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Ware is being held at the Clay County Detention Center while awaiting trial, and his escape resulted in an additional charge of felony prison breach and escape, jail records show.— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Aerial footage of the collision showed that a white car ended up on the sidewalk next to a crosswalk after the crash.— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
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And in 2009, a collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson killed nine people.— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/slam. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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