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
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as in to bludgeon
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cudgel
Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 21 Mar. 2025
And, in a development that has been decades in the making, civil-rights laws have been reduced to cudgels for coercing universities into subservience.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Noun
Democrats plowed ahead anyway, using a procedural end around, but that race foretold the brutal midterm beating Democrats would take from the GOP with ObamaCare as the main cudgel.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 21 Mar. 2025
And, in a development that has been decades in the making, civil-rights laws have been reduced to cudgels for coercing universities into subservience.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgel
Noun
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Arkansas Game and Fish Commission educators will provide cane poles, rods and reels, bait and tackle and offer fishing tips.—
Flip Putthoff,
Arkansas Online,
20 May 2025
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Meanwhile sugar cane extract gently exfoliates while antioxidants to signs of aging, for overall more vibrant skin tone and improve elasticity.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Robert Raymond Cook was executed roughly 65 years ago after being found guilty of killing his father Raymond Cook while being suspected of murdering his stepmother Daisy Cook, and bludgeoning his five young half-siblings — between the ages of 3 and 9 — to death in their sleep.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
24 May 2025
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And while veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot will be the primary playmaker, Cardoso will be a connector who bludgeons opponents under the basket while also activating the bulk of the Sky’s second looks.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Five officers, who are also Black, caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit him with a police baton while trying to handcuff him.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
8 May 2025
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Mills acknowledged that the officers were afraid and exhausted, but said some of the methods used on Nichols complied with police department policies, including using wrist locks and hitting with a baton.—
Adrian Sainz,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 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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Or Jewish people assailed and mocked over social media with unrelenting fervor.—
Jonathan Greenblatt,
Time,
23 May 2025
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Republicans in Congress have for years assailed the agreement for raising taxes and giving other countries more power over American firms.—
Alan Rappeport,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
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For cutting, chopping, or dicing meat, veggies, and more, this Henckels 15-piece knife set is well worth picking up for $205 off the original price.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
16 May 2025
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To stay safe, consider wearing gloves while chopping, or wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water afterward.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Lemont 22-3-1 (5) Rocco Luciano smacks two-run double to spark Lemont to 5-0 win over Lincoln-Way West. 4.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2025
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He was considered a pioneer of hardcore wrestling, slamming opponents through tables and smacking them with chairs.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2025
Verb
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But to whack a cricket ball, delivered sometimes at high speeds over 90 mph by the craftiest bowlers on the planet, high into the sky and into the terraces, requires a combination of incredible strength, hand-eye coordination and bat speed.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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But, forecasters say, the more storms that form the higher the likelihood gets that someone gets whacked.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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