To crush, destroy, or smash something completely; to overwhelm or annihilate something.
From French 'écrasé' (crushed), which comes from Old French 'ecraser.' The word ultimately may be related to Frankish or Germanic roots meaning 'to crush.' It entered English in the 18th century, often used in phrases like 'écrasez l'infâme' (crush the infamous).
This word is most famous from Voltaire's battle cry 'Écrasez l'infâme!'—meaning 'crush the infamous!' used against religious intolerance during the Enlightenment. It's a dramatic word full of violence and power, capturing the passion of intellectual revolution. English borrowed it to sound more forceful than just saying 'destroy.'
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.