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

• cane
• baton
• cudgel

Verb

• slap
• hit
• smack
• knock
• punch
• slam
• bang
• strike
• clap
• whack
• pound
• swipe
• clip
• bat

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

There’s Xi Jinping mogging Bibi Netanyahu while deafeningly aggro phonk bludgeons away; hype montages paint Marx as history’s greatest theorist and pair Zohran Mamdani quotes with Playboi Carti Die Lit cuts. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025

The next unethical president on the left will happily use whatever government bludgeon this administration fashions to pummel the right. —Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2025

Verb

Alubidy grabbed a trailer tow hitch and bludgeoned the 5-foot-tall, 130-pound victim. —City News Service, Oc Register, 15 Oct. 2025

Lo then bludgeons Richard in the head with a metal pipe and kills him. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 Oct. 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