A sledgehammer is a heavy, long-handled hammer with a large metal head, designed for jobs that need serious force. While a regular hammer might weigh a pound or two, a sledgehammer typically weighs between 8 and 20 pounds. You swing it with both hands to break concrete, drive fence posts deep into the ground, or demolish walls.

The word sledge comes from an Old English word meaning “to strike,” and that's exactly what this tool does: it strikes with tremendous power. Construction workers use sledgehammers to knock down old structures. Strongmen at county fairs test their strength by swinging sledgehammers to ring a bell. Some athletes even train with sledgehammers, swinging them at large tires to build muscle and power.

People also use “sledgehammer” to describe an approach that relies on overwhelming force rather than finesse. If you use a sledgehammer approach to solve a problem, you're attacking it with maximum force when something gentler might work better. For instance, banning all video games because one student didn't do their homework would be a sledgehammer solution to a problem that needs a lighter touch.