as in canes
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
the detainee claimed that the police had beat him with their batons even after he had been shackled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of batons
Federal officers wielded batons and deployed flash-bang devices against the crowd.
—
Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
Or to Martin Luther King, whose birthday America will (largely pretend) to honor next week, and everyone who marched with him while facing down hoses and dogs and the batons of cops.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
In protest, hundreds of thousands of Iranians went into the streets and were confronted by security forces with batons and shotguns.
—Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Several armed law enforcement officials wore helmets and masks and stood outside while holding batons, CNN affiliate KEYE reported.
—Hanna Park, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Some people were seen breaking or spray painting windows and state law enforcement officers wearing helmets and holding batons ordered the remaining group of fewer than 100 people to leave late Friday.
—Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
Some people were seen breaking or spray painting windows and state law enforcement officers wearing helmets and holding batons ordered the remaining group of fewer than 100 people to leave late Friday.
—Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
The wounded and dead from Saturday's violence in Malekshahi were taken to the Imam Khomeini hospital in Ilam, where security forces stormed the compound and used batons, tear gas and live fire, according to Hengaw.
—Henry Austin, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026
Police units fired tear gas and used batons to break up crowds in the city center, according to accounts from the scene.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
Or to Martin Luther King, whose birthday America will (largely pretend) to honor next week, and everyone who marched with him while facing down hoses and dogs and the batons of cops.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
In protest, hundreds of thousands of Iranians went into the streets and were confronted by security forces with batons and shotguns.
—Karl Vick, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Several armed law enforcement officials wore helmets and masks and stood outside while holding batons, CNN affiliate KEYE reported.
—Hanna Park, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Some people were seen breaking or spray painting windows and state law enforcement officers wearing helmets and holding batons ordered the remaining group of fewer than 100 people to leave late Friday.
—Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
Some people were seen breaking or spray painting windows and state law enforcement officers wearing helmets and holding batons ordered the remaining group of fewer than 100 people to leave late Friday.
—Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
The wounded and dead from Saturday's violence in Malekshahi were taken to the Imam Khomeini hospital in Ilam, where security forces stormed the compound and used batons, tear gas and live fire, according to Hengaw.
—Henry Austin, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026
Police units fired tear gas and used batons to break up crowds in the city center, according to accounts from the scene.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for batons
canes
Noun
-
Grape vines are the most productive when they're pruned back to about 10 to 12 canes with just 4 to 5 buds each.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Plants should bloom more reliably and rose canes will thicken as their roots establish.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Batons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/batons. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
