smash together

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smash together" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of combining or merging two or more things forcefully or in a haphazard manner. Example: "The artist decided to smash together different styles to create a unique piece of art."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

"We will not smash together two networks with differing technologies".

The New York Times

Not to mention the Large Hadron Collider, which will eventually smash together protons of seven trillion electron volts.

The New York Times - Science

And male bighorn sheep smash together their big-horned skulls, which are stitched together for extra strength like a baseball, to impress potential partners.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Creating new elements began with physicists bombarding existing ones with other particles; as the nuclei careened around they would sometimes smash together and form atoms with more than ninety-two protons.

The New Yorker

The electrons and positrons are accelerated to high energy in a linear accelerator and then injected into a ring, where they circulate in opposite directions and smash together, said Dr. Riccardo Faccini, a BaBar collaborator at the Stanford accelerator center.

The New York Times - Science

"We have two opposing principles that are about to smash together," said Douglas J. Elliott, a fellow of the Brookings Institution, who added that the sense of outrage was palpable.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Their skulls could be smashed together to destroy victims.

The New Yorker

Was it like "hee hee" and "heh heh" smashed together?

The New Yorker

There were 5 and 10 houses smashed together.

The New York Times - Arts

Now it's four events, and two are smashed together.

The New York Times - Sports

3) The CGI war galleys don't look like bath toys smashing together.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smash together" when describing a forceful or sudden combination of two or more things, often resulting in a collision or merging of elements. For example, "The chef decided to smash together different culinary traditions for a fusion dish."

Common error

Avoid using "smash together" in contexts that require a formal or delicate tone. In professional or academic writing, opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "forcefully combine" or "merge violently" depending on the meaning you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

Smash together functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating a forceful collision or combination. As shown in Ludwig, it describes actions ranging from particle physics experiments to artistic fusion, emphasizing a sudden and often impactful merging.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Science & Research

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "smash together" describes a forceful combination or collision. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it is commonly used, especially in contexts related to news, media, and science. While it might be too informal for highly professional writing, it is generally acceptable and effective for describing actions where force and suddenness are key elements. When needed, alternatives such as "collide forcefully" or "merge violently" can provide a more formal tone. The use of "smash together" effectively conveys a sense of impact and is well-supported by numerous examples across diverse authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collide forcefully

Emphasizes the impact and force of the collision, differing slightly in focus.

merge violently

Highlights the merging aspect with an added emphasis on the intensity of the action.

crash into each other

Specifies a mutual collision, focusing on the reciprocal action of crashing.

slam into each other

Similar to "crash into each other" but with a slightly different connotation of impact.

forcefully combine

Highlights the act of combining with notable force rather than implying a collision.

impact with force

Focuses on the resulting impact, rather than the action of smashing.

violently unite

Similar to "merge violently", emphasizing the joining or uniting aspect with violent force.

bring into collision

Highlights the action of causing a collision, rather than the collision itself.

mix abruptly

Implies a sudden or unexpected mixture with force.

integrate impulsively

Indicates a sudden and forceful integration, with an emphasis on spontaneity.

FAQs

How can I use "smash together" in a sentence?

You can use "smash together" to describe a forceful collision or combination of items. For instance: "The scientists "smash together" particles to study their behavior", or "The artist likes to "smash together" different musical genres in his compositions".

What is a more formal alternative to "smash together"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "forcefully combine", "merge violently", or "bring into collision" instead of "smash together".

Is "smash together" appropriate for scientific writing?

While "smash together" is acceptable, scientific writing may benefit from more precise terms like "collide forcefully" or "bring into collision" for clarity.

What's the difference between ""smash together"" and "combine"?

"Smash together" implies a more violent and less controlled combination than simply "combine". "Combine" suggests a more gentle and deliberate merging of elements.