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
Stephen Kearse, TIME, 8 Dec. 2024
Conservatives have had it in for Chevron deference for a long time; given their current majority on the court, the doctrine’s death has been a foregone conclusion, awaiting only the appearance of a suitable case to use as a bludgeon.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024
Law Murray, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Police believe Ford first attacked Gregory, shooting him in the back of the head, bludgeoning him and slitting his throat.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Noun
This in turn opens up the music, changing it from a bludgeon to a balm.
—Stephen Kearse, TIME, 8 Dec. 2024
Conservatives have had it in for Chevron deference for a long time; given their current majority on the court, the doctrine’s death has been a foregone conclusion, awaiting only the appearance of a suitable case to use as a bludgeon.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024
Verb
The Cavs are bludgeoning teams in that action, averaging 1.09 points per possession in pick-and-rolls, second only to the Knicks.
—Law Murray, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Police believe Ford first attacked Gregory, shooting him in the back of the head, bludgeoning him and slitting his throat.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bludgeon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bludgeon
Noun
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Greer kicked him in the ribs, stomped on his head and picked up Snellings’ cane and hit the victim with it, Hoffman said.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 May 2025
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Some carried their work briefcases, some American flags, some walked with canes, and others were pushed in wheelchairs…304,000 of them had been wounded in Vietnam.—
Stan Godlewski,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2025
Verb
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Honda’s results come amid trade tensions with the U.S., which has slapped a 25% tariff on foreign automobile imports.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
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Trump has made clear that his shock plans to slap a 100% tariff on film imports would not be included in a trade deal with the UK, where Pryce films Slow Horses.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
11 May 2025
Verb
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Fundraising craters, and both tech and blockchain are left licking their wounds.—
Tomer Warschauer Nuni,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
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To stop their younger golden retriever Cooper from licking his ears, Tucker had a medical cone.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Five officers, who are also Black, caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit him with a police baton while trying to handcuff him.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
8 May 2025
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Mills acknowledged that the officers were afraid and exhausted, but said some of the methods used on Nichols complied with police department policies, including using wrist locks and hitting with a baton.—
Adrian Sainz,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2025
Verb
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Prosecutors say Read deliberately hit O’Keefe, 46, outside the home a fellow cop and left him for dead in a drunken rage.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Here’s what has changed: The Chiefs separated their project from the Royals’ plans for a new ballpark that asked voters to hit a moving target in April 2024.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Conforto, representing the tying run, pounded a 95.2 mph groundball for an inning-ending double play.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
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From April 3 to April 6, torrential rain pounded the Southeast, causing flooding that put more than 70 million people under flood alerts, killed at least 15, swept away cars and derailed a train.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
8 May 2025
Noun
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In other words, marketers who want to take advantage of the big playoff ratings are generally required to purchase regular-season inventory, although that’s not to say that the premium units are deployed as a cudgel to move the more quotidian spots.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
2 May 2025
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Longer term, researchers fear the Trump Administration will use federal research funding as a cudgel to force universities and other institutions that receive it in its purge of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Lemont 22-3-1 (5) Rocco Luciano smacks two-run double to spark Lemont to 5-0 win over Lincoln-Way West. 4.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2025
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He was considered a pioneer of hardcore wrestling, slamming opponents through tables and smacking them with chairs.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bludgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bludgeon. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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