Quick answer
To smite is to hit, defeat, punish, or overwhelm with force. Its past tense is usually smote, and smitten can mean struck or deeply affected, especially by love.
Word page
Smite Meaning
Smite means to strike hard, punish, defeat, or affect someone suddenly and powerfully. The word has a biblical and dramatic flavor, which is why it often appears in fantasy, scripture, parody, and grand comic threats.
At a glance
archaicmeaningexamples
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, smite is a stronger, older-sounding version of strike, punish, or overwhelm. It suggests force from above, fate, anger, judgment, or dramatic power rather than an ordinary hit.
Example sentences
- Simple: The hero vowed to smite the monster before sunrise.
- Everyday: “My allergies have smitten me” sounds jokingly dramatic.
- Writing: Lightning seemed to smite the tower at midnight.
- Nuance: Smitten can mean deeply affected by love, not only struck.
- Awkward: “I smite the keyboard every morning.” Better: “I hit the keyboard,” unless you want comic drama.
Tone, context, and nuance
Smite sounds elevated, biblical, or humorous in modern English. It can be serious in religious or literary contexts and comic when applied to everyday problems, as in being “smitten” by deadlines, allergies, or a very persuasive dessert.
Common mistakes
- Do not pronounce smite as two syllables; it is one syllable.
- Do not use smite for an ordinary tap or casual hit unless the exaggeration is intentional.
- Remember the forms: smite, smote, smitten, and smiting.
- Do not confuse smitten with only violence; it can also mean deeply charmed or in love.
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference |
|---|---|
| strike | The plain modern verb for hitting. |
| hit | More everyday and less dramatic. |
| punish | Focuses on penalty rather than physical force. |
| afflict | Means to trouble or harm, often without a direct blow. |
| overwhelm | Can describe emotional force rather than physical impact. |
Opposite words
| Opposite | Nuance |
|---|---|
| spare | To choose not to punish or strike. |
| protect | To keep someone from harm. |
| heal | The opposite of harming or afflicting. |
| comfort | The opposite emotional direction from smiting. |
Word family
Smite is the base verb. Smote is the usual past tense, smitten is the past participle and also an adjective, and smiting is the present participle.
Word origin
Smite comes from Old English smītan, meaning to strike. Its long use in biblical and literary English gives the modern word its heavy, dramatic feel.
Writing tip
Use smite when you want action to feel grand, judgmental, mythical, or comic. Use hit, strike, defeat, or punish when you want a cleaner modern sentence.
Common questions
- What does smite mean in simple words? Smite means to strike hard, punish, defeat, or affect someone powerfully.
- How do you pronounce smite? Smite is pronounced SMYTE, rhyming with bite.
- What is the past tense of smite? The traditional past tense is smote. The past participle is often smitten.
- Is smite formal or informal? Smite is literary, biblical, or dramatic rather than ordinary conversational English.
- What is another word for smite? Depending on context, similar words include strike, hit, punish, afflict, or overwhelm.
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Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 14, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.