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Preposition after verb

Smite with or smite by?

Smite with is used for the weapon, force, or emotion used to strike. Smite by is uncommon as an active pattern and usually appears in passive structures such as smitten by grief.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use smite with when naming the thing used to strike or affect someone. Use by mainly in passive expressions such as be smitten by love or be smitten by disease.

The warrior smote the enemy with a hammer.
She was smitten by his kindness.
The town was smitten by a severe storm.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
smite with + weapon or force

Showing what is used to strike

With introduces the weapon, tool, or force causing the effect.

The god smote them with lightning.
He smote the shield with his sword.
2
be smitten by + person or feeling

Passive meaning of being strongly affected

Smitten often appears as an adjective in passive-style expressions.

They were smitten by nostalgia.
She became smitten by the actor.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
smite with
The hero smote the beast with a spear.
Standard pattern for the instrument or means.
smite by
The village was smitten by famine.
Mostly used in passive structures, not as an active verb pattern.
smitten with
He is smitten with jazz music.
Common adjective pattern showing strong liking.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using by after active smite

By normally introduces the agent in passive clauses, not the instrument after active smite.

✕ The king smote the gate by a hammer. ✓ The king smote the gate with a hammer.

Confusing smitten with smite

Smitten often behaves like an adjective.

✕ She smote by his charm. ✓ She was smitten by his charm.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The warrior smote the statue ___ a club.
2. They were smitten ___ the city's beauty.
3. Choose the natural sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

Is smite common in modern English?

It is mostly literary, religious, or dramatic in modern English.

Can I say smitten with instead of smitten by?

Yes. Smitten with is very common for romantic or strong attraction.

Does smite always mean physical violence?

No. It can also mean strongly affect, as in smitten by grief.

sack, by, sack, for, sack, from "sacrifice for" or "sacrifice to"? sail from, in, for, to or through? "salvage from" or "salvage in"? sanction by, for, in, with or according? satisfy with, by, in, about or after? "saturate with" or "saturate in"? save by, for, from, on or in? "say in", "say about" or "say to"? "scan for", "scan in" or "scan through"? "scar by" or "scar on"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on?

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