wrecking ball

wrecking ball
noun
: a heavy iron or steel ball swung or dropped by a derrick to demolish old buildings
 called also wrecker's ball

Abrissbirne, f
Bedeutung:
beim Abriss von H;usern o. ;. verwendete Stahlkugel, die an einem Kran haengt und durch dessen Bewegung mit Wucht gegen das Mauerwerk geschleudert wird, das auf diese Weise zum Zusammenstuerzen gebracht wird

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Examples of wrecking ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The pinballs have been saved from the wrecking ball, says the Facebook page of Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 10 Dec. 2024
Might be time to run plays away from the one-man wrecking ball.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 24 Nov. 2024
Similarly, Trump has promised to take a wrecking ball to virtually all of President Joe Biden’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024
Grotesque inequalities of income, wealth, opportunity, and power have caused most Americans to feel angry, surly, cynical, and ready to take a wrecking ball to the whole system.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History
First Known Use
1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wrecking ball was in 1924
See more words from the same year
Dictionary Entries Near wrecking ball
wreckful

wrecking ball

wrecking bar

Cite this Entry
Style

MLA
“Wrecking ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrecking. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

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