as in cane
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
a farmer armed with a cudgel drove us off his land
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to bludgeon
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cudgel
Kenji Yoshino, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
The federal government has used Medicare funding as a cudgel to get hospitals to follow its priorities before, including as a way to force desegregation of wards in the program's early years.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Timothy Ryback, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Before long, fairs had such attractions as cudgelling bouts, bearbaiting, and something called gouging.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Noun
In the move to obliterate diversity, equity and inclusion, one word — merit — has stood out as an effective cudgel.
—Kenji Yoshino, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
The federal government has used Medicare funding as a cudgel to get hospitals to follow its priorities before, including as a way to force desegregation of wards in the program's early years.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
Hitler exploited his 37% to gridlock legislative processes, to cudgel or crush the political opposition, and ultimately to undermine the country’s democratic structures.
—Timothy Ryback, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Before long, fairs had such attractions as cudgelling bouts, bearbaiting, and something called gouging.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgel
Noun
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The state regulates 132 dams across Hawaii, most of them built as part of irrigation systems for the sugar cane industry, according to a 2019 infrastructure report by the American Society of Civil Engineers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Alberto Rodríguez, 73, limped with a cane down a deserted industrial street.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lumpkin’s daughter, Alisha Keeney, who was 12 when her father was bludgeoned to death, told the court her mother had not served enough time for the brutal slaying.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Almost a month later, she was found bludgeoned to death in a creek in eastern Williamson County.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Good morning, Alexei Oreskovic here, taking the baton back from features editor Matt Heimer, who graciously filled in for me these last couple of days.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
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San Diego Symphony musicians will perform the opera’s score under the baton of conductor Louis Lohraseb, who is making his company debut.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But they are outnumbered by propagandists, trolls, anxious commentators, war-market gamblers, and clout chasers who, apparently, became experts on the Strait of Hormuz overnight.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
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Fielder clouted 95 over his two-year deal and 245 overall for Detroit until 1996.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In late February, the public feud escalated after Trump assailed Anthropic and ordered government agencies to stop using its technology.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Election officials and experts assailed the review, done by the security firm Cyber Ninjas—which made claims about the election process that were disputed by state and county election officials—as deeply flawed and partisan.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Western-style chefs' knives have a wider 20º angle for chopping, while most Japanese-style knives have a less aggressive 15º angle that’s adept at slicing.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
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Shaded by the forest canopy, locals chop firewood, bag recyclables or tinker with bicycles and electric scooters.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
26 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
Verb
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Thus, the bases were empty when Abreu whacked a double off the wall in left-center, a few feet too short of a second home run.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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With runners on the corners, Martinez whacks a two-run, RBI double to tie it at five.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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