Slam

noun, verb, slang

noun, verb, slang ·1 syllable ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A sudden impact or blow.
  • Grammar: slam is listed as noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: adverse criticism, altogether, animadversion, aspersion.
  • Useful contrasts: block, commend, commendation.
  • Usage evidence: Matsui pulled the Giants back from the brink with a grand slam that gave them a come-from-behind victory.

How to use "slam"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "slam" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "slam" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "slam" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "slam" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "slam" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "adverse criticism" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "slam", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A sudden impact or blow. countable

    "How many slams in an old screen door? / Depends how loud you shut it."

  2. 2
    A type of card game, also called ruff and honours. obsolete, uncountable
  3. 3
    A shambling fellow. obsolete
  4. 4
    Initialism of simultaneous localization and mapping. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
  5. 5
    an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect wordnet
Show 17 more definitions
  1. 6
    The shock and noise produced by violently closing a door or other object. countable

    "The slam and the scowl were lost upon Sam."

  2. 7
    A card game, played all at once without separate turns, in which players attempt to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible according to certain rules. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    Acronym of supersonic low altitude missile. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    a forceful impact that makes a loud noise wordnet
  5. 10
    A slam dunk. countable
  6. 11
    Losing or winning all the tricks in a game. countable
  7. 12
    Acronym of stand-off land attack missile. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable, uncountable
  8. 13
    the noise made by the forceful impact of two objects wordnet
  9. 14
    One of the competitions of the yearly Grand Slam events. countable
  10. 15
    A bid of six (small slam) or seven (grand slam) in a suit or no trump. countable
  11. 16
    winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge wordnet
  12. 17
    An insult. US, colloquial, countable

    "I don't mean this as a slam, but you can be really impatient sometimes."

  13. 18
    Winning all (or all but one) of the available, major or specified events in a given year or sports season. countable

    "In the 125 Grand Prix, I. D. Fuller (4) made it a grand slam by setting the fastest time trial, winning his heat and getting the checkered flag in the final."

  14. 19
    The yellow iron silicate produced in alum works as a waste product. UK, dialectal, uncountable
  15. 20
    A poetry slam. countable, uncountable
  16. 21
    A slambook. countable, uncountable

    "Regular friendship books had a variety of variations, such as slams, crams, and decos."

  17. 22
    A subgenre of death metal with elements of hardcore punk focusing on midtempo rhythms, breakdowns and palm-muted riffs. uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To shut with sudden force so as to produce a shock and noise. ergative, transitive

    "Don't slam the door!"

  2. 2
    To defeat (opponents at cards) by winning all the tricks of a deal or a hand. transitive

    "D having seven Spades in his Hand wins them, and consequently slams A and B"

  3. 3
    strike violently wordnet
  4. 4
    To put in or on a particular place with force and loud noise. (Often followed by a preposition such as down, against or into.) ergative, transitive

    "Don't slam that trunk down on the pavement!"

  5. 5
    To make a slam bid. intransitive
Show 15 more definitions
  1. 6
    throw violently wordnet
  2. 7
    To strike forcefully with some implement. ambitransitive

    "But Wolves went in front when Steven Fletcher headed in Stephen Hunt's cross and it was 2-0 when Geoffrey Mujangi Bia slammed in his first for the club."

  3. 8
    close violently wordnet
  4. 9
    To strike against suddenly and heavily. intransitive

    "The boat slammed into the bank and we were almost thrown into the river."

  5. 10
    dance the slam dance wordnet
  6. 11
    To strike and take the life of or at least incapacitate for some time. slang, transitive

    "They want me nicked, they want me slammed Fuckin' snitch had me on remand"

  7. 12
    To defeat or overcome in a match. slang, transitive

    "The Armenian football team has slammed the Turks 6–0."

  8. 13
    To speak badly of; to criticize forcefully. colloquial, transitive

    "Don't ever slam me in front of the boss like that again!"

  9. 14
    To compete in a poetry slam.
  10. 15
    To dunk forcefully, to slam dunk.
  11. 16
    To move a customer from one service provider to another without their consent. transitive
  12. 17
    To drink off, to drink quickly. transitive

    "17 slam some go juice Big project this afternoon? In stressful situations, glucose-rich drinks improve mood and mental performance, say Dutch researchers."

  13. 18
    To inject intravenously; shoot up. ambitransitive, slang

    "I mentioned earlier how many people will draw lines in the sand that they'll never cross: some won't try Tina, others will never slam."

  14. 19
    To perform coitus upon forcefully; to rail. slang, transitive, vulgar

    "Your bird's textin' me 'Tremzy is the man,' You be tryna call her but she's busy gettin' slammed The way she's gettin' doggied you would think she's tryna dance"

  15. 20
    To occupy and busy with a high workload. US, informal

    "For quotations using this term, see Citations:slam. And Citations:slammed."

Synonyms

All synonyms
adverse criticismaltogetheranimadversionaspersionatlasattack

Example

"Matsui pulled the Giants back from the brink with a grand slam that gave them a come-from-behind victory."

Common questions

What does "slam" mean?

A sudden impact or blow.

What is a synonym for "slam"?

Common synonyms include: adverse criticism, altogether, animadversion, aspersion, atlas, attack.

How do you use "slam" in a sentence?

Matsui pulled the Giants back from the brink with a grand slam that gave them a come-from-behind victory.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English *slammen (not recorded), apparently from a Scandinavian source ultimately from Old Norse slæma, slœma (“to slam, swing a weapon, strike an object out of reach”), related to Old Norse slamra, slambra (“to slam”). Cognate with Norwegian Bokmål slamre (“to slam”), Swedish slamra (“to pound, beat, make a clatter, rattle”), Norwegian Nynorsk slamra (“to sway, dangle”).

Etymology 2

Unknown and long-speculated, though perhaps at least reinforced by Etymology 1. Doublet of chelem.

Etymology 3

Compare Dutch slomp, German Schlampe.

More for "slam"

Synonyms

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