bludgeon
noun
\
Definition of bludgeon
(Entry 1 of 2)
bludgeon
verbDefinition of bludgeon (Entry 2 of 2)
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms for bludgeon
Synonyms: Noun
bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, cane, club, cudgel, nightstick, rod, rung [Scottish], sap, shillelagh (also shillalah), staff, truncheon, waddy [Australian]
Synonyms: Verb
bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of bludgeon in a Sentence
Noun
guards armed with bludgeons roamed the compoundVerb
The victim was bludgeoned to death with a hammer. bludgeoned the door with an iron bar in a senseless act of vandalism
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The larger cost is the precedent of using tariffs as a bludgeon on non-trade issues. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Paying for Mexico’s Wall," 9 June 2019 Trump has increasingly relied on tariffs as a bludgeon to try to force other nations to bend to his will, dismissing warnings, including from fellow Republicans, about the likely impacts on American manufacturers and consumers. — Jill Colvin, Time, "Trump Sees Progress in Mexico Talks But 'Not Nearly Enough' to Halt Tariffs," 7 June 2019 Trump has increasingly relied on tariffs as a bludgeon to try to force other nations to bend to his will, dismissing warnings, including from fellow Republicans, about the likely impacts on American manufacturers and consumers. — Jill Colvin, Washington Post, "Trump says no deal yet with Mexico to halt 5% tariff plan," 6 June 2019 The Rams’ Aaron Donald, who leads the league in sacks, bludgeons quarterbacks from the inside. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "The Modern NFL Is Moving Beyond the ‘Blind Side’ to a New Guard," 13 Dec. 2018 Using the argument of art’s truth as a bludgeon, Annie dismisses her son’s feelings, offering an even harsher version of the neglect on display by the self-servingly deluded poet-mother in Augusten Burroughs’s memoir Running With Scissors. — Katherine Fusco, The Atlantic, "Hereditary and the Monstrousness of Creative Moms," 11 July 2018 Carl DeMaio, chairman of the initiative campaign, threatened Wednesday on Twitter to launch recall campaigns against two more Democratic senators and use the gas tax as a political bludgeon against half a dozen Assembly Democrats. — Alexei Koseff, sacbee, "Rent control, data privacy and gas taxes for roads: Get ready for the next election," 7 June 2018 Using the dollar as a bludgeon has already led to capricious and arbitrary decision-making. — The Economist, "America must use sanctions cautiously," 19 May 2018 An offense built to bludgeon did so, after almost a week of inability. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "Astros return to standard operating procedure in win over Mariners," 19 Apr. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Chase’’ Merritt guilty in the bludgeoning deaths of his business associate Joseph McStay, McStay’s wife, Summer, and the couple’s 3- and 4-year-old sons. — Amy Taxin, BostonGlobe.com, "California man guilty of killing family of 4 found in desert," 10 June 2019 That’s a super-team in the flesh, and one that will bludgeon teams all year long in highly entertaining fashion. 4. — Jon Tayler, SI.com, "Yankees? Yes! Angels? Sure! Tigers? No! Ranking the Watchability of Every MLB Team This Season," 2 Apr. 2018 Two homeless men sleeping on the beach were bludgeoned in the head early on Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, leaving one in critical condition, officials said. — Christopher Weber And Elliot Spagat, Fox News, "Man with long immigration record is charged with killings," 28 Sep. 2018 Two homeless men sleeping on the beach were bludgeoned in the head early on Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, leaving one in critical condition, officials said. — Christopher Weber And Elliot Spagat, Fox News, "Man with long immigration record is charged with killings," 28 Sep. 2018 Two homeless men sleeping on the beach were bludgeoned in the head early on Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, leaving one in critical condition, officials said. — Christopher Weber, The Seattle Times, "Man with long immigration record is charged with killings," 26 Sep. 2018 European political risks may increase, as Germany could soon gain a new leader and the European Union tries to bludgeon Italy into an anti-growth budget. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "America Is Not an Island," 15 Nov. 2018 Two additional murder counts were expected in Ventura County in the March 13, 1980, slayings of Charlene and Lyman Smith, who were bludgeoned by a piece of firewood. — Sam Stanton, Benjy Egel And Ryan Lillis, sacbee, "Update: East Area Rapist suspect captured after DNA match, authorities say," 26 Apr. 2018 True did not respond by later bludgeoning her mom with a Baby Birkin bag. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Khloé Kardashian References Her Classic Bentley Feud with Kim Kardashian in a New Video of True," 30 Dec. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bludgeon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for bludgeon
bludgeon
noun
English Language Learners Definition of bludgeon
(Entry 1 of 2)
bludgeon
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of bludgeon (Entry 2 of 2)
See the full definition for bludgeon in the English Language Learners Dictionary
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on bludgeon
What made you want to look up bludgeon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Words for Summer: A Quiz
-
- Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share bludgeon
Resources for bludgeon