hammerhead

noun

ham·​mer·​head ˈha-mər-ˌhed 

1

: the striking part of a hammer

2

: blockhead

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

Waters around the islands are home to multiple types of sharks, including grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks, and hammerhead sharks, according to Visit Turks & Caicos Islands. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025

The poisonous hammerhead worm is on the rise in Houston as Hurricane Beryl and extensive rainfall brings flooding to that region. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 24 July 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hammerhead

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead
• loggerhead

Kids 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