bludgeon

1 of 2

noun

blud·​geon ˈblə-jən 

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

bludgeon

2 of 2

verb

bludgeoned; bludgeoning; bludgeons

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

Synonyms

Noun

• bastinado
• bastinade
• bat
• baton
• billy
• billy club
• cane
• club
• cudgel
• nightstick
• rod
• rung [Scottish]
• sap
• shillelagh
• shillalah
• staff
• truncheon
• waddy [Australian]

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

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 Web

Noun

When the Republican Charles Sumner was struck down by a Southerner on the Senate floor, Raymond’s paper called for armed resistance by pistol, bludgeon, and bowie knife, if necessary. —Matthew Karp, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025

Todd Golden could cycle body after body in the paint to bludgeon opponents and wear them down over 40 minutes, and Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, the Gators’ two starters, were crucial parts of that rotation. —Jim Root, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Verb

In June 1978, between appearances at the Windmill Dinner Theater in Scottsdale, Ariz., Crane was bludgeoned to death. —Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 8 June 2025

Cardoso bludgeoned the Wings for the Chicago Sky’s first 10 points of the 97-92 win. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

verbal derivative of bludgeon entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bludgeon

• dudgeon
• gudgeon

Kids Definition

bludgeon

1 of 2 noun

blud·​geon ˈbləj-ən 

: a short club with one end thicker and heavier than the other

bludgeon

2 of 2 verb

: to hit very hard : beat