smite
gb/smˈaɪt/ us/smˈaɪt/
B2
English
~ 9900
belehabarodik, odavan valakiért, elfog, hatalmába kerít, lesújt, megüt, nekiütközik, sújt
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
to be smitten with [someone]
He was completely smitten with his new coworker after their first conversation.
Az első beszélgetésük után teljesen belehabarodott az új munkatársába.
By the end of the weekend, she was utterly smitten with him.
A hétvége végére teljesen odavolt érte.
I’ve only known him for a week, but I’m already smitten.
They met at a concert and were instantly smitten with each other.
Judging by the way she looks at him, she’s still smitten after all these years.
Learner examples
I was smitten with her from the first day.
Már az első naptól fogva odavoltam érte.
He is smitten with his new girlfriend.
Teljesen belehabarodott az új barátnőjébe.
They are both smitten and very happy.
My brother is totally smitten with that singer.
She is still smitten with the boy she met last year.
Common mistake:
Learners often try to use the simple past *smited* or *smit* in this emotional sense (e.g., *I smited her*). In modern English, this sense is almost always used in the passive with the participle *smitten* (e.g., *I was smitten with her*). Also, some learners confuse *smitten* with *bitten* and think it always has a negative meaning; in this sense it is usually positive and romantic.
Meaning
to make someone suddenly infatuated
Collocations
be smitten with [someone]
|be smitten by [someone]
|totally smitten
|instantly smitten
|smitten teenager
Synonyms
infatuate (More formal and usually used in the passive; less playful than ‘smitten’, slightly colder and more clinical.)
|
captivate (Suggests being strongly attracted or charmed, but not always as sudden or intense as ‘smitten’.)
Antonyms
repel (Describes causing strong dislike or disgust, the emotional opposite of making someone feel in love.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
Definition
To make someone suddenly feel very strong love or liking, usually said as ‘be smitten’ or ‘be smitten with someone’.
To affect someone so strongly that they suddenly feel intense romantic attraction or infatuation, often described using the past participle ‘smitten’.
VERB
C1
2
elfog
B1
Usage pattern:
to be smitten with [negative feeling]
She was suddenly smitten with guilt when she remembered how harshly she had spoken to him.
Hirtelen elfogta a bűntudat, amikor eszébe jutott, milyen keményen beszélt vele.
He lay awake, smitten by remorse for what he had done.
Ébren feküdt, és hatalmába kerítette a megbánás azért, amit tett.
As the storm grew louder, the hikers were smitten with fear.
After reading the news, many people were smitten with a deep sense of shame.
He was smitten by doubt just as he was about to sign the contract.
Learner examples
She was smitten with guilt after the argument.
A vita után elfogta a bűntudat.
He was smitten by fear in the dark room.
A sötét szobában elfogta a félelem.
I was smitten with regret when I saw the damage.
They were smitten with fear during the storm.
The child was smitten with shame after lying.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *smitten* without a preposition (e.g., *I was smitten guilt*). It almost always takes *with* or *by* plus a noun (e.g., *smitten with guilt*, *smitten by fear*). Another confusion is using it with very mild feelings, where it can sound exaggerated.
Meaning
to strike someone with strong guilt or fear
Collocations
be smitten with guilt
|be smitten by remorse
|smitten with fear
|smitten with regret
|smitten by doubt
Synonyms
overwhelm (A broader, more neutral term; does not carry the older, almost poetic flavor that ‘smitten’ has.)
|
afflict (More formal and serious, often used for long-lasting suffering, whereas ‘smitten’ suggests a sudden blow of feeling.)
Antonyms
relieve (Describes taking away or easing painful feelings, the opposite of suddenly loading someone with them.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
Definition
To make someone suddenly feel very strong bad feelings, like guilt or fear, usually said as ‘be smitten with/by’.
To affect someone suddenly and powerfully with a negative feeling such as guilt, remorse, fear, or regret, very often used in the passive with ‘smitten’.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
to smite [someone/something] with [a weapon]
The hero raised his sword to smite the dragon.
A hős felemelte a kardját, hogy lesújtson a sárkányra.
With one mighty swing, she smote the shield in two.
Egyetlen hatalmas csapással úgy lesújtott a pajzsra, hogy az kettétört.
The warrior was smitten down before he could reach the gate.
In the story, the knight swears to smite any who threaten the village.
He lifted the hammer high and smote the iron with all his strength.
Learner examples
The soldier tried to smite his enemy with a sword.
A katona megpróbált karddal lesújtani az ellenségére.
In the game, you can smite monsters with magic.
A játékban varázslattal lesújthatsz a szörnyekre.
The giant smote the tree and it fell.
The hero smote the door with his axe.
The king’s men smote their foes in battle.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *smite* in everyday modern contexts where *hit* or *strike* is natural (e.g., *He smote the ball into the goal*). In contemporary English this sounds humorous or old-fashioned; use *hit* or *smash* instead. Also, the past tense is *smote* and the past participle is *smitten* (or sometimes *smote* in very old style), not *smited*.
Meaning
to strike a hard blow
Collocations
smite the enemy
|smite [someone] with a sword
|smite with a blow
|smite the rock
|smite down his foe
Synonyms
strike (Very close in meaning but more common and neutral; does not carry the archaic or epic tone of ‘smite’.)
|
smack (More informal and often suggests a sharp slap rather than the heavy, dramatic blow implied by ‘smite’.)
Antonyms
spare (In a combat or punishment context, means to deliberately not hit or harm, the opposite of smiting.)
Themes
violence
|war
|literature
|daily_life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hit someone or something very hard, often with a weapon like a sword or club.
To hit someone or something forcefully, especially with the hand, a tool, or a weapon; used mainly in literary, fantasy, or historical styles.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
to smite [someone/something] for [a reason]
The ancient text warns that the gods will smite any who break the sacred law.
Az ősi szöveg arra figyelmeztet, hogy az istenek sújtani fogják mindazokat, akik megszegik a szent törvényt.
They feared that a terrible disease would smite the land.
Attól féltek, hogy rettenetes betegség sújtja majd a földet.
In the legend, the deity smote the city for its pride.
Some people claimed that the storm was sent to smite the wicked.
He prayed that disaster would not smite his family.
Learner examples
The story says that God will smite the evil king.
A történet szerint Isten sújtani fogja a gonosz királyt.
A great fire smote the town in the old tale.
A régi mesében nagy tűzvész sújtotta a várost.
The goddess smote the army for its crimes.
People thought a curse would smite the village.
They feared that illness would smite them for their sins.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that this sense is strongly religious or mythological and sounds very formal or old-fashioned outside those contexts. Using it in everyday speech (e.g., *The teacher smote me with homework*) sounds strange or joking.
Meaning
to punish or destroy with divine power
Collocations
smite with a plague
|smite the wicked
|smite the city
|smite the earth
|smite them for their sins
Synonyms
strike down (Very close meaning; slightly less religious-sounding and more common in modern serious writing.)
|
punish (More general and neutral; lacks the sense of dramatic, overwhelming power that ‘smite’ carries.)
Antonyms
spare (In a judgment context, to decide not to punish or destroy; directly contrasts with the idea of smiting someone.)
Themes
religion
|mythology
|violence
Definition
To punish or destroy someone or something with very great power, often described as something a god does.
To inflict severe punishment, harm, or destruction on someone or something, especially as an act of divine or supernatural power; strongly associated with religious or epic language.
Grammar
Dictionary form
smite
IPA
GB/smˈaɪt/
US/smˈaɪt/
Syllables & stress
smite (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (smite)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: smite
- 3rd Person Singular: smites
- Present Participle: smiting
- Past: smote
- Past Participle: smitten
Word family
Forms
smites
verb
smiting
verb
smote
verb
smitten
verb
Highlights
- Irregular past: smote Verb
- Irregular past participle: smitten Verb
Expressions
be smitten by someone
1/bˈi smˈɪtən bˈaɪ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
informal
to be strongly affected by love for someone
To feel strong romantic attraction because of a particular person.
Examples
- She was utterly smitten by the charming actor.
- He’s been smitten by her since they worked together last summer.
be smitten with guilt
1/bˈi smˈɪtən wˈɪθ ɡˈɪlt/
fixed phrase
to be suddenly overwhelmed by guilt
To suddenly feel very bad and sorry about something you did.
Examples
- He was smitten with guilt when he saw the damage.
- She was smitten with guilt after shouting at her friend.
be smitten with love
1/bˈi smˈɪtən wˈɪθ lˈʌv/
fixed phrase
literary
to be overwhelmed by love
To suddenly feel very strong love, so that the feeling is almost too much.
Examples
- He was smitten with love and could think of nothing else.
- In the poem, the prince is smitten with love for the princess.
be smitten with someone
1/bˈi smˈɪtən wˈɪθ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
informal
to fall suddenly and strongly in love
To suddenly feel very strong love or liking for a particular person.
Examples
- He was clearly smitten with her from the moment they met.
- By the end of the trip, she was completely smitten with her tour guide.
- Everyone could see that Jake was smitten with his new boyfriend.
smite the enemy
1/smˈaɪt ðə ˈɛnəmi/
fixed phrase
literary
to strike or defeat the enemy forcefully
To hit or strongly attack the people you are fighting against.
Examples
- The general swore to smite the enemy before dawn.
- In the fantasy novel, the heroes unite to smite the enemy.