hammerhead
noun
ham·mer·head
ˈha-mər-ˌhed 
1
: the striking part of a hammer
2
3
: any of a family (Sphyrnidae) of active voracious medium-sized sharks that have the eyes at the ends of lateral extensions of the flattened head see shark illustration
Synonyms
- airhead
- birdbrain
- blockhead
- bonehead
- bubblehead
- chowderhead
- chucklehead
- clodpoll
- clodpole
- clot [British]
- cluck
- clunk
- cretin
- cuddy [British dialect]
- cuddie
- deadhead
- dim bulb [slang]
- dimwit
- dip
- dodo
- dolt
- donkey
- doofus [slang]
- dope
- dork [slang]
- dullard
- dum-dum
- dumbbell
- dumbhead
- dummkopf
- dummy
- dunce
- dunderhead
- fathead
- gander
- golem
- goof
- goon
- half-wit
- hardhead
- idiot
- ignoramus
- imbecile
- jackass
- know-nothing
- knucklehead
- lamebrain
- loggerhead [chiefly dialect]
- loon
- lump
- lunkhead
- meathead
- mome [archaic]
- moron
- mug [chiefly British]
- mutt
- natural
- nimrod [slang]
- nincompoop
- ninny
- ninnyhammer
- nit [chiefly British]
- nitwit
- noddy
- noodle
- numskull
- numbskull
- oaf
- pinhead
- prat [British]
- ratbag [chiefly Australian]
- saphead
- schlub [slang]
- shlub
- schnook [slang]
- simpleton
- stock
- stupe
- stupid
- thickhead
- turkey
- woodenhead
- yahoo
- yo-yo
Examples of hammerhead in a Sentence
we despair of ever getting those hammerheads to buckle their seat belts without prodding
Recent Examples on the Web
This new version, however, features six elements that make up the hammerhead and 10 that form the handle and serve as daytime running lights.
—
Doug Newcomb, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025
If a hammerhead shark is spotted close to shore, researchers won’t issue a shark alert like with great white sharks.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 30 July 2024
Great hammerhead sharks can reach 20 feet, but the average is closer to 13 feet and 500 pounds, Oceana reports.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 9 July 2024
Look out for hammerhead sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and playful sea lions in the sapphire waters.
—Kerry Spencer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hammerhead 
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Doug Newcomb, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025
If a hammerhead shark is spotted close to shore, researchers won’t issue a shark alert like with great white sharks.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 30 July 2024
Great hammerhead sharks can reach 20 feet, but the average is closer to 13 feet and 500 pounds, Oceana reports.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 9 July 2024
Look out for hammerhead sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and playful sea lions in the sapphire waters.
—Kerry Spencer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hammerhead
Dictionary Entries Near hammerhead
Cite this Entry
“Hammerhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammerhead. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hammerhead
noun
ham·mer·head
ˈham-ər-ˌhed
: any of various active sharks of medium size that have the eyes at the ends of sideward extensions of the flattened head
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