smite

UK: /smaɪt/ US: /smaɪt/ ,(smīt)

Inflections of 'smite' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

smites

v 3rd person singular

smiting

v pres p

smote

v past

smitten

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

smite /smaɪt/   v. [~ + object] , smote/smoʊt/  smit•ten/ˈsmɪtən/   or smit /smɪt/   or smote, smit•ing. 

1. to hit hard, with or as if with the hand or a weapon.
2. to strike down, injure, attack, or kill:
   smitten by polio.
3. [usually: be + smitten]
   • to affect mentally, morally, or emotionally with a strong and sudden feeling:
     was smitten with terror.
   • to impress favorably;
     enamor:
     He was smitten by her charms.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

smite  (smīt), v., smote or (Obs.) smit;
smit•ten or smit;
smit•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to strike or hit hard, with or as with the hand, a stick, or other weapon:
   She smote him on the back with her umbrella.
2. to deliver or deal (a blow, hit, etc.) by striking hard.
3. to strike down, injure, or slay:
   His sword had smitten thousands.
4. to afflict or attack with deadly or disastrous effect:
   smitten by polio.
5. to affect mentally or morally with a sudden pang:
   His conscience smote him.
6. to affect suddenly and strongly with a specified feeling:
   They were smitten with terror.
7. to impress favorably;
   charm;
   enamor:
   He was smitten by her charms.

v.i. 

8. to strike;
   deal a blow.
9. smite hip and thigh. See hip ¹ (def. 6).

• bef. 900; Middle English smiten, Old English smītan; cognate with German schmeissen to throw, Dutch smijten

smit′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. knock, cuff, buffet, slap.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

smite / smaɪt/ verb (smites, smiting, smote, smitten, smit)(mainly tr)

1. to strike with a heavy blow or blows
2. to damage with or as if with blows
3. to afflict or affect severely: smitten with flu
4. to afflict in order to punish
5. (intransitive) followed by on: to strike forcibly or abruptly: the sun smote down on him

Etymology: Old English smītan; related to Old High German smīzan to smear, Gothic bismeitan, Old Swedish smēta to daub

ˈsmiter noun