Bad times can hit you hard (5)

I believe the answer is:

smite

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'hit you hard' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'bad times' is the wordplay.
'bad' indicates anagramming the letters.
'times' anagrammed gives 'SMITE'.

'can' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for smite that I've seen before include "Strike with a firm blow" , "Strike heavily" , "Strike firmly" , "Strike in archaic way at times" , "Thwack" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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