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
Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The ruling was a setback to Mr. Trump’s plans to use tariffs as a cudgel, as his administration negotiates new trade deals with dozens of countries.
—Jason Karaian, New York Times, 29 May 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
Trump has used the ECB’s recent rate cuts as a cudgel with which to pressure Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The ruling was a setback to Mr. Trump’s plans to use tariffs as a cudgel, as his administration negotiates new trade deals with dozens of countries.
—Jason Karaian, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgel
Noun
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The interiors were inspired by its serene setting in the Serengeti and showcase African art, a neutral color palette, and natural textures, such as linen, clay, grass, and cane.—
Regan Stephens,
Travel + Leisure,
23 June 2025
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Black spot spores can overwinter on rose canes and leaves.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2025
Verb
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The show didn’t argue its perspective so much as unapologetically and relentlessly bludgeon us with it.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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Vogel's cellmate is accused of bludgeoning him with a drainage cover before stabbing him with a shard of glass from a broken television, killing the 39-year-old one day before his scheduled release in August 2024.—
Dan Ruetenik,
CBS News,
10 June 2025
Noun
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Comey delivered her most fiery remarks yet, taking the baton after fellow prosecutor Christy Slavik delivered a five-hour closing argument on Thursday.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
27 June 2025
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Body camera and security footage captured during the rescue, shared by Corona Police on Facebook, showed police through the window of a blue sedan before one of the officers used a baton to smash the front driver’s side window to gain access to the vehicle.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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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
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Not since the former Yankee slugger clouted three home runs in a World Series game against the Dodgers in 1977 has Jackson done more with a pitch in the strike zone.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2024
Verb
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Soon after, they are assailed by terrible things one after another.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
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Orlando Sentinel Bondi’s conduct was assailed last week in a 23-page ethics complaint filed with the Bar by more than 70 prominent lawyers and professors, including two former Florida Supreme Court justices and a former president of the American Bar Association.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Starting with clean produce, cut your watermelon into cubes, chop an English cucumber, and dice an avocado.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 June 2025
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Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was in the mix, chopping it up with some other notable athletes during the offseason.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Anyone who attended the National Restaurant Show in Chicago last month was smacked in the face at booth after booth by a single agenda wrought from desperation: how to harness technology to find ways to use fewer human workers.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
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Please Tony, stop smacking your lips after every sentence.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Corey Perry, who scored with the goalie pulled to send Game 2 into overtime, whacked a loose puck at the blue line through a double screen with 3:13 left.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2025
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Naturally, it was expected that Tony would be the one to whack Richie.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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