1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the stubborn handle a solid clout to make it turn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
has a great deal of clout in the film industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to punch
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
clouted the nail with the hammer and drove it all the way into the wood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clout
Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Receiving this prestigious award is a big accomplishment and one that has a lot of clout in the industry.
—Marc D. Grasso, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
The home run derby title went to St. Augustine senior first baseman M.J. Sweeney, who clouted six home runs in the first round and seven more in the final round to out-slug Madison senior outfielder Jake Jackson, who had six home runs in the first round but only three in the final.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for clout
Noun
Dalio, the most alarmed, sees a crisis looming unless entitlements are reined in and tech investments soar, especially if tariffs dent the dollar’s global clout.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Receiving this prestigious award is a big accomplishment and one that has a lot of clout in the industry.
—Marc D. Grasso, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
Rapinoe, her replacement, clouted her kick well above the bar.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
The home run derby title went to St. Augustine senior first baseman M.J. Sweeney, who clouted six home runs in the first round and seven more in the final round to out-slug Madison senior outfielder Jake Jackson, who had six home runs in the first round but only three in the final.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for clout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clout
Noun
-
With a blow of his whistle, all sorts of words applied: pandemonium, euphoria, mania.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
What’s 42 to 43? Into a black place of great blows from the little mountains from the sea came.—
John Berryman,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Advocacy, messaging and partnerships must go where the influence is moving.—
Toby Wong,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But the rest of the skit was punching up and I/Chelsea was the only one punched down on … Not Sarah Squirm’s fault and not hating on her.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2025
-
With their huge 198 score, the Green & White punched their first ticket to the NCAA Championships since 1988.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Scott tried for a slap but Rhodes hit him with the Cross Rhodes.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Reports indicated that Scott's forceful slap across Rhodes's face resulted in a ruptured eardrum, an injury severe enough to necessitate Rhodes wearing an earplug during subsequent appearances.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Russia analysts have questioned why Russia was not subjected to any tariffs, and whether its exclusion could be part of a White House plan to try to gain leverage over Moscow in any Ukraine peace talks.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2025
-
While most of the market is still chasing sales through cold outreach or aggressive ad spend, the real winners are building leverage through smarter, aligned and scalable partnerships.—
Henry McIntosh,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Then with two outs, Amed Rosario smacked an RBI single.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Once the screen comes, Dort smacked his inside leg into Hayes’ outside one.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Rami Sinno is crouched beside a filing cabinet, wrestling a beach-ball sized disc out of a box, when a dull thump echoes around his laboratory.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Then the silence was broken by the loud thump of Olive’s .38/40.—
Horace R. Hinkley,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Venezuelans make up almost one-third of the city’s electorate and hold significant sway in local elections.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
-
With Turkish backing, HTS operated in northwestern Idlib Province through much of the Syrian civil war and managed to extend its sway over the territory.—
Jerome Drevon,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clout. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share