1
: a short stick that usually has one thick or loaded end and is used as a weapon
2
: something used to attack or bully
the bludgeon of satire
bludgeoned; bludgeoning; bludgeons
1
: to hit with heavy impact
was bludgeoned to death
2
: to attack or overcome by aggressive argument : bully
mental bludgeoning
We do not talk—we bludgeon one another with facts and theories …—
Henry Miller
Henry MillerSynonyms
Examples of bludgeon in a Sentence
Noun
guards armed with bludgeons roamed the compound
Verb
remodelers bludgeoned the wall with a sledgehammer to join the two rooms
the boxer bludgeons opponents with an assortment of punches
Recent Examples on the WebAllison Novelo, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
The saga is the latest example of Lake using audio and video recordings as a political bludgeon.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2024
But a minority is backing Netanyahu to the hilt
Haredi parties dismissed the efforts to conscript them as a political bludgeon used by their political enemies, not a practical need.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
The men had no weapons on them beside their hard rubber coshes—short bludgeons or batons.
—Myke Cole and Michael Livingston, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024
The Wolverines want to bludgeon teams for four quarters, however Alabama is more than capable of standing up to their run game.
—USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2024
Xi has used his notion of national culture, largely defined by the Han Chinese majority, as a bludgeon for forcibly assimilating the country’s Uyghurs, Tibetans, and other such groups.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2023
The Second Amendment continues to be used as a bludgeon against new gun regulations despite many legal experts arguing that the founding fathers never intended to allow unfettered access to guns.
—Julian Zelizer, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023
But engaging with Rowling’s tweets on that particular news story requires getting in the weeds about a single, high-profile, messy-as-hell case that needs to be addressed with a scalpel, not a bludgeon.
—Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2023
Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 25 Feb. 2024
Johnson admitted to bludgeoning the child’s head with a brick and leaving her body in a pit at a nearby glass factory.
—Luke Nozicka, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024
Theo read about Joe Ray McDonald, a Wisconsin drifter who strangled and bludgeoned his prostitute victims, then dug his initials into their stomachs.
—Addie Citchens, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
As of January, this critical service industry that was bludgeoned at the outset of the pandemic is a mere 0.4% (75,000 jobs) from reaching its February 2020 employment levels.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024
Autopsies show that most died of starvation, while others were bludgeoned to death.
—David McKenzie, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
One of the survivors, Daniel's mother, was injured when she was bludgeoned by his gun but is expected to survive, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn told reporters.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2024
Her body was partially naked, and police determined that she had been raped and bludgeoned with a brick wrapped in pantyhose.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2024
Finishing that business is as simple as picking up the nearest heavy object and bludgeoning her in one quick swing.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2024
Noun
Others assaulted Capitol police with pepper spray, bludgeons, and other makeshift weapons.
—Allison Novelo, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
The saga is the latest example of Lake using audio and video recordings as a political bludgeon.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2024
But a minority is backing Netanyahu to the hilt
Haredi parties dismissed the efforts to conscript them as a political bludgeon used by their political enemies, not a practical need.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
The men had no weapons on them beside their hard rubber coshes—short bludgeons or batons.
—Myke Cole and Michael Livingston, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2024
The Wolverines want to bludgeon teams for four quarters, however Alabama is more than capable of standing up to their run game.
—USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2024
Xi has used his notion of national culture, largely defined by the Han Chinese majority, as a bludgeon for forcibly assimilating the country’s Uyghurs, Tibetans, and other such groups.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2023
The Second Amendment continues to be used as a bludgeon against new gun regulations despite many legal experts arguing that the founding fathers never intended to allow unfettered access to guns.
—Julian Zelizer, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023
But engaging with Rowling’s tweets on that particular news story requires getting in the weeds about a single, high-profile, messy-as-hell case that needs to be addressed with a scalpel, not a bludgeon.
—Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2023
Verb
After Arkansas scored 56 points in the paint during its 91-84 win at Missouri on Jan. 31, the Tigers were determined not to be bludgeoned inside.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 25 Feb. 2024
Johnson admitted to bludgeoning the child’s head with a brick and leaving her body in a pit at a nearby glass factory.
—Luke Nozicka, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024
Theo read about Joe Ray McDonald, a Wisconsin drifter who strangled and bludgeoned his prostitute victims, then dug his initials into their stomachs.
—Addie Citchens, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
As of January, this critical service industry that was bludgeoned at the outset of the pandemic is a mere 0.4% (75,000 jobs) from reaching its February 2020 employment levels.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024
Autopsies show that most died of starvation, while others were bludgeoned to death.
—David McKenzie, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
One of the survivors, Daniel's mother, was injured when she was bludgeoned by his gun but is expected to survive, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn told reporters.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2024
Her body was partially naked, and police determined that she had been raped and bludgeoned with a brick wrapped in pantyhose.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2024
Finishing that business is as simple as picking up the nearest heavy object and bludgeoning her in one quick swing.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bludgeon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bludgeon
Cite this Entry
“Bludgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bludgeon. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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