1
dialectal, chiefly British
: a piece of cloth or leather : rag
2
: a blow especially with the hand
When she was naughty, she would get a clout from her mother.
also
: a hard hit in baseball
3
: a white cloth on a stake or frame used as a target in archery
clouted; clouting; clouts
1
: to cover or patch with a clout
clouted his worn-out shoe with a piece of leather
2
: to hit forcefully
He clouted 19 home runs last year.
He clouted him on the back of the head.
Synonyms
Noun
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Verb
Examples of clout in a Sentence
Noun
She used her political clout to have another school built.
gave the stubborn handle a solid clout to make it turn
Verb
He clouted 19 home runs last year.
He'll clout me around the head if he finds out what I've done.
Recent Examples on the Web
Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Not merely by being the first high-profile player to formally join up among a group that would include starting pitcher Michael Wacha, reliever Chris Stratton, outfielder Hunter Renfroe and Lugo, but also by lending his voice and clout to the proceedings.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024
New York is a place where clout will triumph over love almost every time.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024
Trump had endorsed Moreno, and the primary was this year’s first test of the former president’s clout in a contested Senate race.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
DiNello — already non-executive chairman of NYCB’s board — was appointed executive chairman in early February, and his rising clout was was immediately on display.
—Daniel Taub, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024
Bell Gardens: The City Council recall was the opening of a campaign to turn Latino numbers into political clout.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
President Biden’s promise to replicate California’s law at the national level has fallen victim to congressional gridlock and industry clout.
—Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Only a handful of operators worldwide, however, have the expertise, clout and ambition to make the unimaginable real.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024
Alan J. Borsuk, Journal Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2024
Rapinoe, her replacement, clouted her kick well above the bar.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
The home run derby title went to St. Augustine senior first baseman M.J. Sweeney, who clouted six home runs in the first round and seven more in the final round to out-slug Madison senior outfielder Jake Jackson, who had six home runs in the first round but only three in the final.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2023
Professional sports leagues and clubs are asked to use their platforms and clout to raise awareness.
—Darlene Superville, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2023
The home run reminded folks that Schwarber clouted a Darvish pitch just last October, into Petco Park’s upper deck beyond right field, during the National League Championship Series.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023
After Trump left his office, his allies, with money to make and clout to keep, turned to Saudi Arabia as a business pipeline.
—New York Times, 27 July 2022
That’s because, despite your plutonium card status, earned by staying across that group’s thousands of properties, advisors have clout with that particular hotel based on regularly booking clients there.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes, 7 June 2021
The researchers then clout the strontium with a laser that puts the atoms in a superposition state.
—Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 13 Apr. 2020
Noun
Even with all the Florio wealth, Franca’s clout wasn’t an anomaly in the early 1900s, according to Auci.
—Catherine Sabino, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Not merely by being the first high-profile player to formally join up among a group that would include starting pitcher Michael Wacha, reliever Chris Stratton, outfielder Hunter Renfroe and Lugo, but also by lending his voice and clout to the proceedings.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024
New York is a place where clout will triumph over love almost every time.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024
Trump had endorsed Moreno, and the primary was this year’s first test of the former president’s clout in a contested Senate race.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
DiNello — already non-executive chairman of NYCB’s board — was appointed executive chairman in early February, and his rising clout was was immediately on display.
—Daniel Taub, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024
Bell Gardens: The City Council recall was the opening of a campaign to turn Latino numbers into political clout.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
President Biden’s promise to replicate California’s law at the national level has fallen victim to congressional gridlock and industry clout.
—Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Only a handful of operators worldwide, however, have the expertise, clout and ambition to make the unimaginable real.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024
Verb
But possible changes in whose voice matters might give the state superintendent more clout ahead.
—Alan J. Borsuk, Journal Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2024
Rapinoe, her replacement, clouted her kick well above the bar.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
The home run derby title went to St. Augustine senior first baseman M.J. Sweeney, who clouted six home runs in the first round and seven more in the final round to out-slug Madison senior outfielder Jake Jackson, who had six home runs in the first round but only three in the final.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2023
Professional sports leagues and clubs are asked to use their platforms and clout to raise awareness.
—Darlene Superville, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2023
The home run reminded folks that Schwarber clouted a Darvish pitch just last October, into Petco Park’s upper deck beyond right field, during the National League Championship Series.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023
After Trump left his office, his allies, with money to make and clout to keep, turned to Saudi Arabia as a business pipeline.
—New York Times, 27 July 2022
That’s because, despite your plutonium card status, earned by staying across that group’s thousands of properties, advisors have clout with that particular hotel based on regularly booking clients there.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes, 7 June 2021
The researchers then clout the strontium with a laser that puts the atoms in a superposition state.
—Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 13 Apr. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old English clūt; akin to Middle High German klōz lump, Russian gluda
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of clout was
before the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near clout
Cite this Entry
“Clout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clout. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
clout
nounˈklau̇t
1
: a blow especially with the hand or with a baseball bat
2
: influence entry 1 sense 1
political clout
clout
verb
More from Merriam-Webster on clout
Nglish: Translation of clout for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of clout for Arabic Speakers
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