bludgeon

1 of 2

noun

blud·​geon ˈblə-jən How to pronounce bludgeon (audio)
1
: a short stick that usually has one thick or loaded end and is used as a weapon
2
: something used to attack or bully
the bludgeon of satire

bludgeon

2 of 2

verb

bludgeoned; bludgeoning; bludgeons

transitive verb

1
: to hit with heavy impact
was bludgeoned to death
2
: to attack or overcome by aggressive argument : bully
mental bludgeoning
We do not talk—we bludgeon one another with facts and theories …Henry Miller

Examples of bludgeon in a Sentence

Noun guards armed with bludgeons roamed the compound Verb remodelers bludgeoned the wall with a sledgehammer to join the two rooms the boxer bludgeons opponents with an assortment of punches
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Mishra then abruptly juxtaposes a scene from Gaza, flush with heavy-handed language that bludgeons home his comparison. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025 Related article Holocaust becomes political bludgeon as Netanyahu returns to a country at crossroads Dekel-Chen was 35 years old when he was kidnapped while trying to defend his Nir Oz from Hamas attackers. Dana Karni, Ibrahim Dahman and Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
At 6ft 4in (193cm) with a solid frame, the Norway international has the appearance of a battering-ram centre forward who bullies centre-backs and bludgeons his way to goal. Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025 Meanwhile, the Grizzlies shot 55 percent and bludgeoned Miami, scoring 72 points in the paint, the most permitted by the Heat this season and the most since allowing 76 points in the paint in a game in 2008. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bludgeon

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

verbal derivative of bludgeon entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bludgeon was in 1730

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bludgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bludgeon. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

bludgeon

1 of 2 noun
blud·​geon ˈbləj-ən How to pronounce bludgeon (audio)
: a short club with one end thicker and heavier than the other

bludgeon

2 of 2 verb
: to hit very hard : beat

More from Merriam-Webster on bludgeon

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!