pulverize

especially British, pul·ver·ise

[puhl-vuh-rahyz]

verb (used with object)

pulverized, pulverizing 

1. to reduce to dust or powder, as by pounding or grinding.

2. to demolish or crush completely.

3. Slang.,  to defeat, hurt badly, or, figuratively, render helpless.

   The Kid pulverized Jackson with a series of brutal lefts. He's a veteran nightclub comic who can pulverize any audience in seconds.

verb (used without object)

pulverized, pulverizing 

1. to become reduced to dust.

pulverize

/ ˈpʌlvəˌraɪz /

verb

1. to reduce (a substance) to fine particles, as by crushing or grinding, or (of a substance) to be so reduced

2. (tr) to destroy completely; defeat or injure seriously

Other Word Forms

• pulverizer noun
• pulverization noun
• pulverizable adjective
• subpulverizer noun
• unpulverized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pulverize¹

1575–85; < Late Latin pulverizāre to reduce to powder, equivalent to Latin pulver- (stem of pulvis; akin to pollen ) dust + -izāre -ize

Word History and Origins

Origin of pulverize¹

C16: from Late Latin pulverizare or French pulvériser, from Latin pulverum, from pulvis dust

Example Sentences

The 17-year-old from Cross Ash, Monmouthshire, had been racing downhill mountain bikes since he was eight, wanting to "go fast all the time", when he crashed before a race and pulverized one of his kidneys.

From BBC

Nice guys not only finish last, they wind up pulverized like everyone else below a certain tax bracket, no matter their dedication toward humanity.

From Los Angeles Times

Well into his 80s, Murdock lifted weights several times a week, walked on a treadmill daily and drank smoothies made of 20 different kinds of fruit and vegetables including pulverized banana peels.

From Los Angeles Times

The site also is being used to pulverize concrete removed from burned properties, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Heavy excavation machines bash giant concrete blocks into more manageable chunks, before grinders pulverize the material into 1- to 3-inch rocks, which can be recycled.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annihilate 
• decimate 
• demolish 
• flatten 
• shatter 
• vanquish 
• vaporize