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
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2
as in pounding
to strike repeatedly
a boxer bludgeoning his opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in thrashing
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bludgeoning
Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
Correa’s return to Houston concluded with a 12-0 bludgeoning by the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, finishing a six-game homestand in which the Astros were outscored 44-17 and, on Friday, came within four outs of having a perfect game thrown against them.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Unlike bludgeoning Ryan to death with a toilet-tank lid, Harrison’s assault of Vinny is pure fantasy.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
After bludgeoning Kansas City Royals starter Bailey Falter and jumping out to a seven-run lead, the Red Sox nearly saw things come completely off the rails after the Royals rallied for four runs late.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Can the Chiefs similarly start bludgeoning teams as the season winds down?
—Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
The killer or killers then backtracked through the crime scene, bludgeoning his victims dozens of more times in the head.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
Sneed admitted to robbing and bludgeoning Van Treese and was sentenced to life in prison.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Oct. 2024
The Guardian recently reported that the Project 2025 architect, Kevin Roberts, had bragged to colleagues about bludgeoning a neighbor’s dog to death with a shovel.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Noun
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
Correa’s return to Houston concluded with a 12-0 bludgeoning by the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, finishing a six-game homestand in which the Astros were outscored 44-17 and, on Friday, came within four outs of having a perfect game thrown against them.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Unlike bludgeoning Ryan to death with a toilet-tank lid, Harrison’s assault of Vinny is pure fantasy.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
After bludgeoning Kansas City Royals starter Bailey Falter and jumping out to a seven-run lead, the Red Sox nearly saw things come completely off the rails after the Royals rallied for four runs late.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Can the Chiefs similarly start bludgeoning teams as the season winds down?
—Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
The killer or killers then backtracked through the crime scene, bludgeoning his victims dozens of more times in the head.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
Sneed admitted to robbing and bludgeoning Van Treese and was sentenced to life in prison.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Oct. 2024
The Guardian recently reported that the Project 2025 architect, Kevin Roberts, had bragged to colleagues about bludgeoning a neighbor’s dog to death with a shovel.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bludgeoning
Verb
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Under the hot summer sun, players drip sweat after repeatedly smacking into each other during long, physical practices.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
21 Aug. 2025
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Montgomery gave the White Sox a 3-1 lead, smacking a two-run single to right field.—
Field Level Media,
Reuters,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And the thump, thump, thumping of her brother’s hands pounding a heavy bag.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
30 Aug. 2025
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These unofficial remixes, uploaded from unremarkable accounts, create a kind of Satie-esque audio overdose, pounding the band’s melody into abstraction, pure stimulus.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Exactly what was needed for a thrashing of Girona.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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The band Welles scored a gig at Bonnaroo in 2017, released a few EPs and a full album in 2018, and toured a bunch, but the world wasn’t especially interested in grunge-metal thrashings.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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DraftKings, one of the biggest online sports gambling sites in Illinois, is slapping 50- or 25-cent fees on most bets.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Tchervinski can be seen in the viral video slapping one of the suspects, which his lawyer claims occurred after he had already been hit.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Excluding the pandemic, that’s the slowest average monthly gain for that January to August time frame since 2010, when the United States was still licking its wounds from the Great Recession.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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Today, Alabama is licking its wounds.—
Don Yaeger,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 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.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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But the Braves came back with three runs in the eighth on an RBI single from Matt Olson, a run-scoring triple from the hot-hitting Ozzie Albies and a single from Drake Baldwin.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The company destroyed a piece of lashing wire that investigators believe slapped an Xcel electrical conductor and caused arcing that led to the fire, said Matthew Delinko with Bauman, Lowe, Witt & Maxwell, a law firm representing insurance companies.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
21 Aug. 2025
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By Wednesday, videos of waves lashing the homes began to make the rounds on social media.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But a federal judge ruled against the police agency, concluding there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial — including a neighbor's cell phone video that captured a trooper punching the man in the face and slamming him to the ground.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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While the employees of Dunder Mifflin largely were just punching a clock, the Truth Teller staff enjoys their work.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bludgeoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bludgeoning. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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