wham
UK: wæm | US: wæm
n. a sudden, forceful impact or loud sound
vt. to strike or hit with a loud impact
interj. an exclamation imitating the sound of a loud blow or collision
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"Wham" is an onomatopoeic word, directly mimicking the sound of a heavy blow or explosive collision. It emerged in the early 20th century, likely influenced by similar explosive interjections like "bang" or "boom." Its spelling phonetically emphasizes the abrupt, forceful nature of the sound it represents (the "wh-" suggesting swift motion, and "-am" closing with a abrupt stop). As a verb/noun, it extends this sound symbolism to describe actions or events with sudden, dramatic impact.
The door slammed shut with a loud wham.
He whammed the ball out of the park.
Wham! The car crashed into the barrier.
The boxer whammed his opponent with a right hook.
The thunderclap sounded like a wham overhead.