bludgeon

play

noun blud·geon \ ˈblə-jən \

Definition of bludgeon

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

See bludgeon defined for English-language learners

See bludgeon defined for kids

Examples of bludgeon in a Sentence

guards armed with bludgeons roamed the compound

Recent Examples of bludgeon from the Web

Check out this brief moment from the trailer, where the Hound bludgeons a White Walker.

— megan friedman, Harper's BAZAAR, "Game of ThronesFans Think This Tiny Detail Predicts Gendry’s Fate," 14 Aug. 2017
Jones has one of his characters, Eddie Bead, punch, bludgeon and bayonet a Japanese soldier who surprises him while defecating in the jungle.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "The savage fight for Guadalcanal: Jungle, crocodiles and snipers during World War II," 7 Aug. 2017
Several winners received cash prizes in dollars for showing the president in the white robes of the Ku Klux Klan, sharing a Time magazine cover with Adolf Hitler, or as Captain America wielding the Statue of Liberty as a bludgeon.

— thomas erdbrink, New York Times, "Why Are These Iranians ‘Really, Really Happy With Trump’?," 3 July 2017
In a nutshell, anything that can be used as a bludgeon is a no-no.

— melanie eversley, USA TODAY, "Government looks to expand electronics ban on incoming international flights," 12 May 2017
Bludgeon opponents into submission late in games, and ride a killer bullpen to ensure opponents can’t do the same.

— SI.com, "3. Houston Astros (21–11, plus-33, LT: 2)," 8 May 2017
Use the powerful access rights of these statutes wisely, and not as a bludgeon.

— kelly g. richardson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "HOA Homefront: Owners have very broad rights of access to association financial records.," 29 Apr. 2017
For them, the vote for the largest transportation tax in history will surely be used as a bludgeon by their political opponents.

— jon coupal, Orange County Register, "Gas tax hike recalls Gray Davis," 8 Apr. 2017
Unlike Trump, who wields his words like a bludgeon, Apple is hushed, calm, resolute.

— carrie battan, The New Yorker, "Listen to “Tiny Hands,” Fiona Apple’s Anti-Trump Protest Song," 18 Jan. 2017

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of bludgeon

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1730

See Words from the same year

bludgeon Synonyms

Synonyms

bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, club, cane, cudgel, nightstick, rod, rung [Scottish], sap, shillelagh (also shillalah), staff, truncheon, waddy [Australian]

Related Words

blackjack, knobkerrie, mace; birch, crabstick, hickory, rattan, stave, switch; beetle, gavel, hammer, mallet, maul, sledgehammer; crook, crosier (or crozier), walking stick, whangee

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

bludgeon

verb

Definition of bludgeon

transitive verb

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

See bludgeon defined for English-language learners

Examples of bludgeon in a Sentence

The victim was bludgeoned to death with a hammer.
bludgeoned the door with an iron bar in a senseless act of vandalism

Recent Examples of bludgeon from the Web

In the 1950s, no murder case held the public enthralled like that of Sam Sheppard, a respected physician convicted of bludgeoning his wife to death.

— National Geographic, "These Famous People Were Dug Up After Death—Here's Why," 12 July 2017
Last season, the Tribe bludgeoned Brad Ausmus’ squad to the tune of 14-4.

— vito chirco, Detroit Free Press, "Tigers' next foe: Indians a tough challenge with Kluber, pitching staff," 7 July 2017
Trail was found on April 29, 1997, wrapped in a rug, his head bludgeoned by a hammer.

— marlena scott, Teen Vogue, "Gianni Versace's Murder, Explained," 6 July 2017
The president’s tweet of a stupid wrestling video depicting himself bludgeoning CNN wasn’t a threat of violence against journalists.

— jonah goldberg, National Review, "Trump’s Relationship with Media Is Co-dependent," 4 July 2017
Authorities say the attacker bludgeoned Gulliver in the face, pulled her pants to her ankles, stabbed her repeatedly from her thighs to her chest until the blade of the knife broke off inside her.

— CBS News, "Cops issue warning after woman stabbed to death in Philadelphia park," 27 June 2017
The line’s delivered in the middle of a beating, and the victim isn't the only one being bludgeoned.

— harry windsor, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Australia Day’: Film Review | Sydney 2017," 16 June 2017
A 43-year-old homeless man has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly bludgeoning another man with an aluminum baseball bat, according to King County prosecutors.

— sara jean green, The Seattle Times, "Man charged with murder in baseball-bat attack at Seattle homeless encampment," 9 June 2017
In 2014, a Staten Island man who admitted to bludgeoning his mother to death with an iron several years earlier was given a day pass and failed to return.

— emily woodruff, baltimoresun.com, "Day passes for vulnerable patients of psychiatric hospitals can have dangerous, even fatal consequences," 9 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of bludgeon

verbal derivative of ¹bludgeon

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1777

See Words from the same year

bludgeon Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, hit, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap

Related Words

batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough; scuff; bunt, flick, stroke, tap; bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp; bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump [slang], fell, floor, knock down, level; rabbit-punch, sucker punch; cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip; bean, brain, conk, skull

BLUDGEON Defined for English Language Learners

bludgeon

play

noun

Definition of bludgeon for English Language Learners

: a heavy stick that usually has one thick end and is used as a weapon
: something that is used to attack or bully someone

bludgeon

verb

Definition of bludgeon for English Language Learners

: to hit (someone or something) very hard
: to use arguments or threats to force (someone) to do something

Learn More about bludgeon

See words that rhyme with bludgeon Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bludgeon Spanish Central: Translation of bludgeon Nglish: Translation of bludgeon for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up bludgeon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

bludgeon

Definition of bludgeon

From the M-W Editors

Examples of bludgeon in a Sentence

Recent Examples of bludgeon from the Web

Origin and Etymology of bludgeon

bludgeon Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

bludgeon

Definition of bludgeon

Examples of bludgeon in a Sentence

Recent Examples of bludgeon from the Web

Origin and Etymology of bludgeon

bludgeon Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

BLUDGEON Defined for English Language Learners

bludgeon

Definition of bludgeon for English Language Learners

bludgeon

Definition of bludgeon for English Language Learners

Learn More about bludgeon

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Trending: Ivanka: "An 'Otherwise' Incredible Day"

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066