Word Of The Week: Smithereens

The word of the week is “smithereens.”

 

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Smithereens

1. fragments
2. bits

I know this is not an obscure or unfamiliar word, but it’s just so much fun! It’s also a bit unusual in that it’s almost always used in the plural form and in conjunction with such verbs as blow or smash. 

According to Merriam-Website: “Despite its American sound and its common use by the fiery animated cartoon character Yosemite Sam, smithereens did not originate in American slang. Although no one is entirely positive about its precise origins, scholars think that smithereens likely developed from the Irish word smidiríní, which means “little bits.” That Irish word is the diminutive of smiodar, meaning “fragment.” According to print evidence, the plural form smithereens first appears in English in the late 18th century.”

Synonyms for smithereens:

• shards
• particles
• pieces

Examples of “smithereens” usage

The boys’ favorite science experiments were those that blew things into smithereens.

Her rage over his infidelity was such that she smashed his expensive camera to smithereens with a baseball bat. 

How would you use smithereens in a sentence?

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