as in thrashing
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1
as in smacking
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 pounding
to strike repeatedly
a boxer bludgeoning his opponent
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Recent Examples of bludgeoning
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Dec. 2025
Bates announced on Wednesday that Lively was sentenced after he was found guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal bludgeoning and stabbing of 68-year-old John Hall III in Northwest Baltimore City.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
Between the late evening hours Friday night and early morning Saturday, two teenagers and their 21-year-old friend allegedly conspired and carried out a brutal bludgeoning murder in Fruita.
—The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Denver Post, 25 Nov. 2025
Dennis, 53, was convicted of bludgeoning his ex-girlfriend Timwanika Lumpkins and UM linebacker Marlin Barnes to death with a shotgun in 1996.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 21 Nov. 2025
The statement rattles Abbott enough to let his guard down, which is how Nile gets to be on top of him, bludgeoning his head with the back of Abbott’s own gun after strangling him.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Most historians believe Gunness would first poison her suitors, then finish them with an ax or by bludgeoning — afterward dismembering the corpses and burying what remained.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Governor Andrew Cuomo uses his Attorney General as a bludgeoning tool for his own purposes.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 9 Oct. 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
But there's a difference between helping a parent stay on track with a new regime and bludgeoning them with reminders.
—Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
To start the bludgeoning, Aledo quickly established the run game in its opening drive with runs of 30 and 44 yards — that set up a 9 yard rushing TD from quarterback Lincoln Tubbs.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Dec. 2025
Bates announced on Wednesday that Lively was sentenced after he was found guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal bludgeoning and stabbing of 68-year-old John Hall III in Northwest Baltimore City.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
The day ended Sunderland’s last top-tier stint, a 1-0 defeat confirming relegation and continuing a winless home run which spanned a loyalty-bludgeoning 364 days.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
Between the late evening hours Friday night and early morning Saturday, two teenagers and their 21-year-old friend allegedly conspired and carried out a brutal bludgeoning murder in Fruita.
—The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Denver Post, 25 Nov. 2025
Dennis, 53, was convicted of bludgeoning his ex-girlfriend Timwanika Lumpkins and UM linebacker Marlin Barnes to death with a shotgun in 1996.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 21 Nov. 2025
The statement rattles Abbott enough to let his guard down, which is how Nile gets to be on top of him, bludgeoning his head with the back of Abbott’s own gun after strangling him.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Most historians believe Gunness would first poison her suitors, then finish them with an ax or by bludgeoning — afterward dismembering the corpses and burying what remained.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Governor Andrew Cuomo uses his Attorney General as a bludgeoning tool for his own purposes.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 9 Oct. 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
But there's a difference between helping a parent stay on track with a new regime and bludgeoning them with reminders.
—Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bludgeoning
Noun
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The 61-point win was UT's most-lopsided victory in a Big 12 or SEC game, besting a 90-39 thrashing of Texas Tech in 2018.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
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The 6-0 thrashing was highlighted by a blitz of three goals in the span of 76 seconds, the latter two lamp-lighters coming just nine ticks apart.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And the good vibes of those wins quickly dissolved with Toronto smacking them around in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.—
Joan Silber,
New Yorker,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Russia has been pounding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with drones and missiles in recent weeks, a tactic used in previous winters.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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But those massive events aren’t the only way for fans to experience the heart-pounding thrills and sense of community that only live sports can deliver.—
Ava Wallace,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The brand’s range features cultural designs made using a mix of traditional Chinese techniques, including hammering, carving, hollowing, filigree, embedding, and heat treatment of enamels.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
14 Nov. 2025
-
The sound of hammering came from outside in the driveway, where some men were building a coffin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
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That means not just the sound of rubber slapping the pavement or the whir of electric motors—the soundtrack of a Formula E race—but something new and artificial or, more generously, bespoke.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The sketch concluded with the librarian licking Moynihan's face with a forked tongue and then unbuttoning her blouse — causing all of the boys' heads to explode.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
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Others, like Ava Louise, do it through viral media stunts, like flashing the New York-Dublin Portal or licking a toilet seat in the beginning of the Covid pandemic.—
Taylor Lorenz,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the same way that writing had taught me to pay attention to life, to perpetually hoover up sensory details and bits of dialogue around me, trash bashing cultivated a new propensity for seeing interesting possibilities in everyday items.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Dec. 2025
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Those optics gave Democrats, particularly the moderate gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey and Virginia, room to run on the economy while largely steering clear of Trump-bashing.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
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After an incompletion on third down, McCashland’s 25-yard field goal attempt was no good, hitting the right upright with 17 seconds remaining in the half.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bludgeoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bludgeoning. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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