clout

1 of 2

noun

ˈklau̇t 

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

4

: pull, influence

political clout

She parlayed her box-office clout to wealth and independence

—B. S. Pierre

clout

2 of 2

verb

clouted; clouting; clouts

transitive verb

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

• bang
• bash
• bat
• belt
• biff
• bludgeon
• bob
• bonk
• bop
• box
• bust
• clap
• clip
• clobber
• clock
• crack
• hammer
• hit
• knock
• nail
• paste
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slog
• slug
• smack
• smite
• sock
• strike
• swat
• swipe
• tag
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• whack
• whale
• zap

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

Noun

Trump can use the U.S. edge in artificial intelligence, semiconductor design, and other key technologies as an additional source of clout, guaranteeing that partners that agree to his trade terms will get access to cutting-edge chips for AI and other high-tech American products. —Peter E. Harrell, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2024

Zoom out: As an example of a lower profile position with outsized clout, sources pointed us to the deputy attorney general, because that person makes decisions around cases the DOJ takes up. —Brady Dale, Axios, 17 Dec. 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

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English clūt; akin to Middle High German klōz lump, Russian gluda

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

clout

noun

ˈklau̇t

1

: a blow especially with the hand or with a baseball bat

2

: influence entry 1 sense 1

political clout

clout verb