as in cane
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
a farmer armed with a cudgel drove us off his land
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to bludgeon
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cudgel
Timothy Ryback, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Before long, fairs had such attractions as cudgelling bouts, bearbaiting, and something called gouging.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 July 2025
The self-serving approach whereby trafficking becomes a cudgel to be used against enemies will have unfortunate consequences for many years to come.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Noun
Hitler exploited his 37% to gridlock legislative processes, to cudgel or crush the political opposition, and ultimately to undermine the country’s democratic structures.
—Timothy Ryback, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Before long, fairs had such attractions as cudgelling bouts, bearbaiting, and something called gouging.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
Verb
While Trump has effectively wielded tariffs as a cudgel to reset the terms of trade, the economic impact is uncertain as most economists expect a slowdown in U.S. growth and greater inflationary pressures as the costs of the taxes are passed along to domestic businesses and consumers.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 July 2025
The self-serving approach whereby trafficking becomes a cudgel to be used against enemies will have unfortunate consequences for many years to come.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgel
Noun
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These toads are a non-native species introduced to control sugar cane pests almost a century ago.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Aug. 2025
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Raised in a small town in Puebla, Mexico, her parents grew sugar cane to support a family that struggled financially.—
Olivia Cyrus,
Sacbee.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Grippo bludgeoned Casado to death, delivering multiple blows with the makeshift weapon and fleeing before police arrived.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The Street Profits bludgeoned Erick Rowan with steel chairs.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The motion asked for the court to hold the city in contempt of court, saying LAPD officers hit journalists with batons and arrested them in violation of the court's previous order.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
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Now, more than a decade later and after years of work together, Nathan is handing the baton to Rogers.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There’s a real reckoning to be made about the casting process and how to move forward, especially given the type of influence and clout the show can create for its contestants.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
14 July 2025
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Kerry Carpenter clouted a key home run for the Detroit Tigers and Cole Ragans has pitched two terrific games for the Kansas City Royals among younger players stepping up.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Murdoch’s Journal has routinely assailed Trump during the first six months of his presidency on its opinion pages, and its newsroom has published more reporting on Trump and the Epstein files in the days since the president’s suit was submitted.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
31 July 2025
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Populists in Europe and the United States assail the WTO for undercutting their manufacturing sectors.—
STACIE E. GODDARD,
Foreign Affairs,
28 July 2025
Verb
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The only chopping required is for the chicken itself, if your butcher doesn’t give you a hand, and to mince the garlic.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Aug. 2025
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Cucumbers are good for more than just chopping into salads as an afterthought, including: Add cucumber to bean salad or a Mexican corn salad with cotija cheese, lime, and cilantro.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Sure, they got smacked by Ohio State, but who didn't last winter?—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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Two 10-ounce bags of Fresh Express lettuce got smacked with Stop Sales.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In what Michael Cole called a massacre, Lynch whacked Valkyria with a red toolbox.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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In the first inning, Ramirez whacked the ball 421 feet to left center with a 111.5 mph exit velocity.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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