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
Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
Antiquated federal bureaucracy, bewildering jurisdictional rules and burdensome state taxation bludgeon the spirit of enterprise on tribal lands.
—Adam Crepelle, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2025
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
In September 2000, Eric Plunkett was bludgeoned to death in his dorm room.
—Corin Cesaric, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Noun
But in the months leading up to the vote, the topic increasingly turned into a political bludgeon and partisan blame game.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
Antiquated federal bureaucracy, bewildering jurisdictional rules and burdensome state taxation bludgeon the spirit of enterprise on tribal lands.
—Adam Crepelle, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
The Knicks were down 2-1 in that series and have bludgeoned their opponents ever since, not losing a game.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
In September 2000, Eric Plunkett was bludgeoned to death in his dorm room.
—Corin Cesaric, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bludgeon
Noun
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Rick Valente, a patient who visits a third-floor doctor's office several times a month, said he has been forced to climb the stairs despite relying on a cane for stability.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
As for your cane, there’s a place for that at the door.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The parasite has now been discovered in cattle in south Texas and New Mexico, which prompted Canada to slap bans on live cattle from the region.—
Andrew Muhammad,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
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Aranda slapped an outside changeup on a line down the leftfield line, and the ball struck the screen on the fair side of foul pole for a three-run homer.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Bring along a friend who wouldn’t be able to indulge in these kinds of finger-licking treats otherwise.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 June 2026
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The image of the students as vivisectors, committed to extracting the hearts and licking the bones of the transgressors in their midst, seems to mirror her own hatred of the university’s tendency toward frenzied analysis.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Alite provided loans at exorbitant rates before threatening violence to collect on them, authorities said, citing the discovery in his home of metal knuckles, an expandable baton, six baseball bats and about two dozen knives, including switchblades.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
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Officers can use voice commands, and if those don’t work options include pepper spray, a baton, a TASER or fire extinguisher, though some are more difficult to use on a fast-moving animal, the directive says.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Israeli strikes hit several towns in southern Lebanon on Saturday morning local time, killing at least five people, Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported, despite Israel and Hezbollah renewing their truce Friday.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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Temperatures are expected to soar on June 22 in parts of Oregon and Washington, possibly hitting 100 degrees in Portland and at least 90 degrees in Seattle.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Verb
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The war killed more than 3,300 Iranians, according to state media, including top leaders, and pounded the country's infrastructure and armed forces.—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
19 June 2026
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One of the deputies shone his light through the window and pounded on the door again.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Judges, attorneys, guardians and other court professionals have repeatedly used custody as a cudgel, according to some family court attorneys and advocates, punishing parents for their conduct by limiting their access to their children.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2026
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Linda wields her absolute power over Bradley like a cudgel, exploiting his helplessness to emotionally abuse and manipulate him.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 2026
Verb
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There's one man smack in the middle of it all.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
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For the viewer, the satisfaction comes through vicarious tactile sensation—witnessing how the thatch gets smacked in by a flat, hammerlike device, or the way a tile slots perfectly into a shelf niche.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bludgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bludgeon. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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