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
John M. Crisp, Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2025
There’s Xi Jinping mogging Bibi Netanyahu while deafeningly aggro phonk bludgeons away; hype montages paint Marx as history’s greatest theorist and pair Zohran Mamdani quotes with Playboi Carti Die Lit cuts.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
As the man turns to leave, all of the gates shut, and a bull comes roaring toward the center, bludgeoning the man to death.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Noun
Mamdani’s critics, of course, quickly turned the word into a bludgeon.
—John M. Crisp, Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2025
There’s Xi Jinping mogging Bibi Netanyahu while deafeningly aggro phonk bludgeons away; hype montages paint Marx as history’s greatest theorist and pair Zohran Mamdani quotes with Playboi Carti Die Lit cuts.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
White’s onslaught was only part of a crucial advantage for the Bulls, who bludgeoned the Nets from the 3-point arc in the first half (60%).
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
As the man turns to leave, all of the gates shut, and a bull comes roaring toward the center, bludgeoning the man to death.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bludgeon
Noun
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Officer Richard Perry walked into his arraignment Wednesday in a neck brace, using a cane.—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Stars would debut daring fashion statements there, like Selma Blair, who showed off her jeweled cane after announcing her MS diagnosis.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kiel grounded out to third base before Sorrell slapped a single to right field, but was caught trying to steal second base.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Itoje was sin-binned in the 64th for illegally slapping the ball in a maul and 13 men were playing Italy's 15.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The dog ignored him, and licked the boy’s face.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
At Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, the oldest carving factory in America, a team of former archaeologists and butchers creates ephemeral art designed to be licked, touched, and eventually, lost.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The film hands off its plot like a baton, passing from this dissatisfied shopper to a factory owner to her dead daughter-in-law (another ghost) who petitions the government for her civil rights despite being in the body of an appliance.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Edris steals a glance at a dozen or two golden batons rising at eye level.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In seeing their six-game winning streak halted just before hitting the friendly skies for a four-game road trip that tips off in Phoenix on Sunday, the Hornets (32-32) were victimized by Miami in the fourth quarter.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Mar. 2026
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Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch in the fifth to push the Americans’ lead to 4-1.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Glass removed violins from the orchestra to achieve a dark, primordial orchestral sound along with pounding percussion.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In the past 24 hours, Israel conducted more strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut and continues to pound Tehran.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As Californians look toward the 2026 governor’s race, candidates on both sides of the aisle are once again wielding crime as a political cudgel.—
Jose Bernal,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Running against McCombie from the right is 49-year-old retired police officer Victoria Onorato of Byron, who was not responsive to us and uses McCombie’s willingness to cross the aisle in Springfield as a cudgel.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That one sits, like, smack in the middle of the park.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Brent Burns set up Landeskog’s one-timer from the high slot on the heels of a strong burst by MacKinnon, who had smacked a one-timer of his own in off the rush following Kempe’s errant pass at the offensive blue line.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bludgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bludgeon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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