I. ˈslej-ˌha-mər noun
Date: 15th century
: a large heavy hammer that is wielded with both hands ; also : something that resembles a sledgehammer in action
II. verb
Date: 1834
transitive verb
: to strike with or as if with a sledgehammer
intransitive verb
: to strike blows with or as if with a sledgehammer
III. adjective
Date: 1827
: marked by heavy-handed directness or hard-hitting force
trusting in sledgehammer warfare — C. J. Rolo