1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the stubborn handle a solid clout to make it turn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
has a great deal of clout in the film industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to punch
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
clouted the nail with the hammer and drove it all the way into the wood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of clout
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2026
The states that fall for the tax-the-rich mania will be left in the dust, with failing economies and shrinking political clout in Congress.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
The recall was widely seen as a litmus test for how much clout the national conservative group can wield in non-partisan local politics.
—Maritza Dominguez, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clout
Noun
In the 28 years since, the rapper’s purchases have become increasingly extravagant as his personal fortune and clout have grown and the collecting bug has taken hold.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2026
The states that fall for the tax-the-rich mania will be left in the dust, with failing economies and shrinking political clout in Congress.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Pellegrino, a 6-foot-3 forward who’s nearly devoid of body fat and brims with energy, clouted the ball out the air for the third goal and ran toward the supporters section, raising the crowd’s volume.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
The recall was widely seen as a litmus test for how much clout the national conservative group can wield in non-partisan local politics.
—Maritza Dominguez, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clout
Noun
-
Virginia made one last push, cutting TCU’s lead to 65-55, but the Horned Frogs quickly delivered the knockout blow as Miles knocked down a 3 and Suarez hit sophomore center Clara Silva for a layup to end Virginia’s hopes of another upset.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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The Israeli military later said raw materials are processed for enrichment at the Yazd plant and the strike was a major blow to Iran’s nuclear program.—
Farnoush Amiri,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In interviews with The Star, politicians, consultants and other political experts touted Graves’ ability to use his influence in Washington to bolster Kansas City’s most important projects.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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Charlotte credited him and maternal grandfather Jeff Foy for being big influences on her softball path.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Rockets are a team that lost its starting point guard (Fred VanVleet) at the start of the year while the Knicks brought back and built upon the exact same core that punched the franchise’s first ticket to the conference finals in the last quarter-century.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Manning allegedly punched and kicked Hartman in the face and torso, scratched her, choked her and grabbed her by the hair and slammed her against the floor and wall.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Leonard extended his 20-point streak to 49 straight games with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting, welcoming hand slaps from teammates after hitting his second 3-pointer late in the game.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Emma Peschel beat the first-period buzzer with a slap shot to make it 4-0 and Sara Swiderski sent a shot from the blue line that deflected into the goal in the third.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That translates to less leverage on wages, more competition for roles, and longer job searches.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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As everything started to unfold, there were multiple reports that Swift was indeed involved, offering support to Lively at one point, and that Lively brought Swift up as leverage against Baldoni.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then reality smacks you in the face.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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That is another area in which dreams smack into the reality of Cuban state, which owns 80% of all arable land.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated March 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The experimental jet, part of NASA’s Quesst mission, is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound while producing only a soft sonic thump instead of a disruptive boom.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
-
At its best, the music’s blackout-drunk thump-thump functions more like an anxious heartbeat.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And yet, musically the drummer does follow the sway and groove of the vocalist as much as the vocalist follows the drummer.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Artists across the industry credit BTS with a canny international strategy that expanded K-culture’s global sway.—
Dan Bilefsky,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clout. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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