as in cane
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
guards armed with bludgeons roamed the compound
Synonyms & Similar Words
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1
as in to slap
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
remodelers bludgeoned the wall with a sledgehammer to join the two rooms
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
a boxer bludgeoning his opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bludgeon
Jim Root, New York Times, 2 May 2025
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
Omar Kelly
updated October 6, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Bill Clinton bludgeoned congressional Republicans with the 1995 shutdowns to recapture momentum and set in motion his successful reelection campaign.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Noun
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
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
Verb
Every opponent Miami’s faced has been able to bludgeon the Dolphins with its rushing attack.
—Omar Kelly
updated October 6, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Bill Clinton bludgeoned congressional Republicans with the 1995 shutdowns to recapture momentum and set in motion his successful reelection campaign.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bludgeon
Noun
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Video from the protest showed the elderly and people with disabilities among those arrested, including a blind man using a mobility cane and two people in wheelchairs.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
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Sugar comes from sugar cane or sugar beets.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the scrum disperses, D’Angelo turns to you and slaps you five.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
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Violeta Santos Moura | Reuters Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of trying to weaken the global economy by slapping export controls on resources vital for technology.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Elizabeth and Dominic's 95 guests burst into laughter as the dog jumped into the fountain and began walking around, licking up water.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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The carcass was gone, the grass and weeds were licked clean of blood, and the knife was buried under debris.—
Marguerite Reiss,
Outdoor Life,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Soon joined by colleagues, the officer used a baton to shatter the driver’s side window before pulling an unresponsive man to safety.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
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The holy grail at the end of the tunnel is the idea that Burrow could return for January football intact to take the baton and make a run at a championship.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Snell faced the minimum while allowing one hit and striking out a postseason career-high 10 batters.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
14 Oct. 2025
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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John Candy famously took a racquetball to the skull in a key comedic scene from the 1984 film Splash — and fellow actor Tom Hanks recalls that his late costar's head might've been pounding already after Candy spent the night before drinking with Hollywood icon Jack Nicholson.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
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The ball would pound the hardwood like a hammer pounds a nail.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The announcement was not explicitly framed as a cudgel against drugmakers that had failed to agree to Trump’s previous pricing demands, but a three-year exemption from the tariffs was apparently enough to get Pfizer on board.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
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When words lose their original meanings and are repurposed as verbal cudgels, the public sphere becomes a jungle of denunciation, intimidation, and even violence.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The back half of the New York Film Festival delivered a secret screening of a solid Academy Award contender, the box office smacked down a Venice Film Festival award winner, and two major contenders in the acting fields up and switched their categories.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
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Their best chance against him came in the first inning when Kyle Schwarber smacked a one-out double to right.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bludgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bludgeon. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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