Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of shark: A medium-sized shark that gives birth to live young, characterized by its unique, flattened head with eyes located at each end, resembling the shape of a hammer. It is found in warm waters worldwide and can be dangerous.
   • The striking part of a tool: The heavy, typically metal, part of a hammer, used for striking or driving nails.
   • A foolish or stupid person: (Informal, derogatory) A term used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Shark):
  • We saw a hammerhead swimming near the reef.
  • The hammerhead uses its unique head shape to improve its vision and hunting ability.
• Noun (Tool Part):
  • The hammerhead was loose, so the nail didn't go in straight.
  • He replaced the wooden handle but kept the original steel hammerhead.
• Noun (Person):
  • Don't be such a hammerhead; the instructions are clear. (Informal, derogatory)
  • He called his friend a hammerhead for forgetting the keys again. (Informal, derogatory)

Advanced Usage

• "hammerheaded" (adjective): Having a head shaped like a hammer; (informally) stupid.
  • The fossil showed a hammerheaded structure.
  • That was a hammerheaded thing to do. (Informal, derogatory)

Variants and Related Words

• Hammerhead shark: The full common name for the fish.
• Hammer (noun/verb): The tool from which the "hammerhead" (part) derives its name; to strike repeatedly.

Synonyms

• For the shark: Sphyrnid (scientific family name).
• For the tool part: Head (of a hammer), striking face.
• For the person (informal, derogatory): Blockhead, dunce, fool, idiot, numbskull.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Not the sharpest tool in the shed: An idiom with a similar derogatory meaning to calling someone a "hammerhead," implying low intelligence.
  • He's a nice guy, but let's just say he's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Noun

1. medium-sized live-bearing shark with eyes at either end of a flattened hammer-shaped head; worldwide in warm waters; can be dangerous
2. the striking part of a hammer
3. a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence