truncheon

noun

ˈtrən-chən How to pronounce truncheon (audio)
Definition of truncheonnext
as in cane
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment police officers kept their hands on their truncheons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 truncheon For the Civil Rights Movement, Alabama troopers lifting truncheons to beat marchers crossing Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge. — Susan Page, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025 Even the basic concept of free speech has become another truncheon in the nation’s ongoing battle between tribes. — Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025 There were police with truncheons and tear gas outside the ground. — Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 Later, after riot police used truncheons and tear gas to disperse the people, demonstrators set up tent camps with barricades, self-defense units, and banners with revolutionary slogans. — Hanna Arhirova, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for truncheon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for truncheon
  1. cane
  2. baton
Noun
  • After the end of sugar, the old plantations had begun leasing their fallow cane lands to Big Ag companies, such as Dow, Pioneer, and Brun’s Syngenta, which took advantage of lax regulations to conduct experimental GMO and pesticide testing.
    — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Victim 2, who is a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue employee according to the New York Times, was repeatedly struck with canes and paddles and bled through his underwear and pants because of lacerations to his buttocks, according to the warrant.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
Definition of cane
Noun
  • In one of the incidents, the Chinese coast guard allegedly wounded a Philippine sailor by striking him in the head with a baton, according to the Philippine military.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The police attacked them with batons, tear gas, and pellet guns.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of baton

Browse Nearby Words

truncating
truncheon
truncheons
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Truncheon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/truncheon. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of anecdote

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All