variants
or cudgelling
as in thrashing
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgeling
Noun
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And, the 56-22 CFP semifinal Peach Bowl thrashing of Oregon began with Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026 -
Last season’s 56-7 thrashing of former college football power Nebraska.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Born in England to an immigrant Pakistani father and white mother of British and Irish descent, Zayn wrote rap music as a teen, spent two years boxing and planned to pursue a degree in English in hopes of becoming a teacher.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
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His fights with Pacquiao and McGregor were broadcast under the agreement, which was the richest in boxing history at the time.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Eric Freeny blocked Smith, Bilodeau grabbed the loose ball and threw an outlet to Dailey for a hammering dunk.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, Moscow has kept up its hammering of Ukraine’s energy grid in overnight attacks that killed at least two people, according to Ukrainian officials.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Things often turn uglier after nightfall, when the convoys return and the protesters sometimes grow angrier, shaking fences and occasionally smacking passing cars.—
Tim Sullivan,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
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My long-term goals are more important than smacking.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The memories remained from crawling across the balcony, the pounding on the chamber doors, the screams echoing through the rotunda.—
Norma Torres,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
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In that room, Cristobal didn’t come down hard on his staff, no yelling or pounding of the table.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then Eriksson Ek helped create Spurgeon’s tying goal by dominating Kaiser in front and whacking at two rebound attempts, with the puck bouncing right to Spurgeon by the post.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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The reptile reacts to being picked up by flicking its meaty tail back and forth, whacking a few of the deputies.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Florida’s agricultural industry is taking stock after Sunday’s extreme weather, with farmers facing millions of dollars in losses after a battering from an extremely dry fall compounded by the weekend’s arctic plunge.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
2 Feb. 2026
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Bystanders have recorded video of officers using a battering ram to get into a house as well as smashing vehicle windows and dragging people out of cars.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Part of the answer seems to be more brands willing to make early commitments that actually matter (and not just slapping logos on things) but investing in the media infrastructure that lets fans watch and follow women’s sports in the first place.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 Jan. 2026
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But 6-11 has a way of slapping you in the face.—
Sam McDowell
January 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cudgeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgeling. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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