1
dialectal, chiefly British
: a piece of cloth or leather : rag
2
: a blow especially with the hand
When she was naughty, she would get a clout from her mother.
also
: a hard hit in baseball
3
: a white cloth on a stake or frame used as a target in archery
clouted; clouting; clouts
1
: to cover or patch with a clout
clouted his worn-out shoe with a piece of leather
2
: to hit forcefully
He clouted 19 home runs last year.
He clouted him on the back of the head.
Synonyms
Noun
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Verb
Examples of clout in a Sentence
Noun
She used her political clout to have another school built.
gave the stubborn handle a solid clout to make it turn
Verb
He clouted 19 home runs last year.
He'll clout me around the head if he finds out what I've done.
Recent Examples on the Web
Esther Newman, refinery29.com, 24 Oct. 2024
And so having clout became a kind of supreme value.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
Chuck Murr, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for clout 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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about these examples.
Noun
Its most popular products (like the Calendula Toner, #1 Lip Balm, and Ultra Facial Moisturiser) were introduced in the 1960s, and still carry best-seller clout today with hundreds of on-site reviews and top-star ratings.
—Esther Newman, refinery29.com, 24 Oct. 2024
And so having clout became a kind of supreme value.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
Verb
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
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
See all Example Sentences for clout
Dictionary Entries Near clout
Cite this Entry
“Clout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clout. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
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