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
Matthew Karp, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Peace in Ukraine and the Middle East is proving to be far harder to achieve than the real estate deals envisaged by the president, while the bludgeon of tariffs is raising ever more opposition among erstwhile allies.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
Story editing is a form of self-talk that preempts your under-estimator from seizing control with its bludgeoning feedback.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Noun
When the Republican Charles Sumner was struck down by a Southerner on the Senate floor, Raymond’s paper called for armed resistance by pistol, bludgeon, and bowie knife, if necessary.
—Matthew Karp, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Peace in Ukraine and the Middle East is proving to be far harder to achieve than the real estate deals envisaged by the president, while the bludgeon of tariffs is raising ever more opposition among erstwhile allies.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
O’Steen bludgeoned Marissa Grimes, dug a shallow grave for her under his house in west Fort Worth and for 10 days lived above where police later sawed open the floor to expose Grimes’ decomposing 135-pound body, prosecutors have argued that the evidence shows.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
Story editing is a form of self-talk that preempts your under-estimator from seizing control with its bludgeoning feedback.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bludgeon
Noun
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Cover the pot and the bottom few inches of the rose canes with soil, then add a layer of mulch for insulation.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Cane sugar is a popular sweetener that comes from sugar cane or sugar beets.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In a video posted just days before the competition started, Richter gets his butt slapped by his mentor.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
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The investigation, which includes an anti-dumping probe, comes just days after Mexican authorities slapped duties on an array of Chinese imports from textiles to steel and automotive parts.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During a bedtime conversation between Kaz and Caesar, for example, their dog keeps licking Caesar as Kaz tries to have a serious talk with him.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
25 Sep. 2025
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Posted to the account @maisythemarshmallow on September 19, the video shows the dog, named Maisy, lying calmly as the cat snuggles up and licks her face.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Early that morning at the Ashmont MBTA station, Bartlett physically assaulted a homeless man without legal justification – striking the victim in the leg three times with a steel police baton.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
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The following day, conductor Reab Ahmed took the baton, widely celebrated as the youngest and first Saudi maestro to lead national orchestra.—
Billboard Arabia,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The newer versions can hit stationary and moving targets at sea.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
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His termination notice came just over a week after reporting he had been hit by a car while on duty.—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Now, MacLachlan, who lives in North Carolina, is pounding the pavement with a grassroots campaign to garner industry attention.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
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The affidavit also stated that Brimmer somehow managed to outrun Suresh and made it to a neighbor's house, where the victim began pounding on the garage until he was let into the home.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When words lose their original meanings and are repurposed as verbal cudgels, the public sphere becomes a jungle of denunciation, intimidation, and even violence.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
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The House spending bill would use that power as a cudgel, halting congressional approval of FASB’s budget (see page 108) until the accounting agency repeals its new disclosure rules.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The baby used her tail to smack the bird before taking it underwater, resurfacing to show boaters the bird had been skinned, the group said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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The flintlock coughed a lot of smoke, but Zutterman heard the 270-grain roundball smack the buck.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bludgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bludgeon. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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