Thesaurus results for CUDGELS

cudgels 1 of 2

noun

plural of cudgel

as in batons

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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cudgels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cudgel

as in chops

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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 cudgels

Noun

When words lose their original meanings and are repurposed as verbal cudgels, the public sphere becomes a jungle of denunciation, intimidation, and even violence. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 While the conservative pushback and Trump’s cudgels are encouraging some companies to abandon formal DEI policies, analysts say an emphasis on diversity continues and is quietly evolving beneath the surface. — William Becker, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025 Major events, like football games, are often used as cudgels to force a deal, with both the distributor and broadcaster eager to ensure the events are available to subscribers. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgels

Noun

Some pushed against barricades and scuffled with police, who responded by firing tear gas rounds, using water cannon and beating them with batons, TV footage showed.

— Reuters, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026
For 15 minutes, officers used batons and stun guns to subdue King.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of batons

Verb

Consider two investors, one who invests $7,500 at the beginning of the year, and another who chops it up into $288 biweekly investments.

— Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
The proposal chops $150 million from the Developmental Disabilities Administration, which battled against the largest budget cut in last year's negotiations.

— JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026

Definition of chops

Noun

Pruning In winter, when canes are done producing fruit for the season, prune the canes that bore fruit down to the base of the plant so new ones will grow in the spring.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026
Sales of Cardinal’s consumer healthcare products, such as crutches, canes and its Leader brand of cough drops and other over-the-counter medications, are also reported here.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of canes

Verb

With runners on the corners, Martinez whacks a two-run, RBI double to tie it at five.

— Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
Then little Holly Wheeler and her 10-year-old friends, including the Season 5 favorite Derek (Jake Connelly), all swarm into the basement and take over the D&D table in a passing of the torch that basically whacks the audience over our collective heads.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025

Definition of whacks

Verb

Labin details the elaborate process of elimination that determines which socks to bring to the festival each year.

— Scott Neuman, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
The makeup department added scars to Shaynak’s knees and legs to reflect his character’s backstory, but the compression socks Shaynak wore were his own.

— Marah Eakin, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026

Definition of socks

Verb

Sometimes the pursuit of a cleaner interface boxes you into one that will not grow with the feature pathways that emerge.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
On Wednesday, Johnson signed an executive order that boxes out problem vendors that don't more tightly regulate against straw purchases.

— Chris Tye, CBS News, 29 July 2026