pulverize

verb

pul·​ver·​ize ˈpəl-və-ˌrīz 

pulverized; pulverizing

transitive verb

1

: to reduce (as by crushing, beating, or grinding) to very small particles : atomize

pulverize rock

2

: annihilate, demolish

intransitive verb

: to become pulverized

pulverizable

ˌpəl-və-ˈrī-zə-bəl 

adjective

pulverization

ˌpəl-və-rə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌpəlv-rə-

noun

pulverizer

ˈpəl-və-ˌrī-zər 

noun

Synonyms

• annihilate
• cream
• decimate
• demolish
• desolate
• destroy
• devastate
• do in
• extinguish
• nuke
• pull down
• raze
• rub out
• ruin
• shatter
• smash
• tear down
• total
• vaporize
• waste
• wrack
• wreck

Examples of pulverize in a Sentence

The mower pulverizes grass clippings.

Bits of pulverized rock filled the air.

Recent Examples on the Web

The blockage is pulverized to particles smaller than the size of a red blood cell that harmlessly exit the bloodstream. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025

Garlic supplements usually consist of dried and pulverized whole cloves. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Feb. 2025

One of the surreal legacies of the war is the juxtaposition of neighborhoods that were pulverized by fighting and others that were left unscathed. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

This process involves dehydrating, processing, and pulverizing the placenta into a fine powder. —Christina Montoya Fiedler, Parents, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin pulverizare, from Latin pulver-, pulvis dust, powder — more at powder

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for pulverize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

pulverize

verb

pul·​ver·​ize ˈpəl-və-ˌrīz 

pulverized; pulverizing

1

: to beat or grind into a powder or dust

2

: to destroy as if by pulverizing

Medical Definition

pulverize

verb

pul·​ver·​ize

variants also British pulverise

ˈpəl-və-ˌrīz 

pulverized also British pulverised; pulverizing also British pulverising

transitive verb

: to reduce (as by crushing, beating, or grinding) to very small particles

intransitive verb

: to become pulverized