as in cane
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
a farmer armed with a cudgel drove us off his land
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as in to bludgeon
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cudgel
Scott White, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Democrats plowed ahead anyway, using a procedural end around, but that race foretold the brutal midterm beating Democrats would take from the GOP with ObamaCare as the main cudgel.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 21 Mar. 2025
Timothy Ryback, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Before long, fairs had such attractions as cudgelling bouts, bearbaiting, and something called gouging.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Noun
Too often, schools and districts wield data as a punitive cudgel rather than a tool for improvement.
—Scott White, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Democrats plowed ahead anyway, using a procedural end around, but that race foretold the brutal midterm beating Democrats would take from the GOP with ObamaCare as the main cudgel.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
Hitler exploited his 37% to gridlock legislative processes, to cudgel or crush the political opposition, and ultimately to undermine the country’s democratic structures.
—Timothy Ryback, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Before long, fairs had such attractions as cudgelling bouts, bearbaiting, and something called gouging.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgel
Noun
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Arkansas Game and Fish Commission educators will provide cane poles, rods and reels, bait and tackle and offer fishing tips.—
Flip Putthoff,
Arkansas Online,
20 May 2025
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Meanwhile sugar cane extract gently exfoliates while antioxidants to signs of aging, for overall more vibrant skin tone and improve elasticity.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Robert Raymond Cook was executed roughly 65 years ago after being found guilty of killing his father Raymond Cook while being suspected of murdering his stepmother Daisy Cook, and bludgeoning his five young half-siblings — between the ages of 3 and 9 — to death in their sleep.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
24 May 2025
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And while veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot will be the primary playmaker, Cardoso will be a connector who bludgeons opponents under the basket while also activating the bulk of the Sky’s second looks.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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YoungBoy takes the baton and aims at his detractors.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
21 May 2025
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During his testimony, Mills said the officers were afraid and exhausted but noted that some of the methods used on Nichols complied with police department policies, including using wrist locks and hitting with a baton.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Or Jewish people assailed and mocked over social media with unrelenting fervor.—
Jonathan Greenblatt,
Time,
23 May 2025
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Republicans in Congress have for years assailed the agreement for raising taxes and giving other countries more power over American firms.—
Alan Rappeport,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
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How This Recipe Comes Together The most challenging part of the recipe is chopping the potatoes, which of course isn't even difficult.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
28 May 2025
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The duo then had an exchange with the War Raiders, one of whom chopped Bert.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
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The two smacked into each other last Thursday trying to catch a Cedric Mullins fly ball, leaving both with concussions.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2025
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Indiana’s first unit smacked opponents by 12.2 points per 100 possessions during the regular season, according to Cleaning the Glass.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Shohei Ohtani retook sole possession of the major league lead in long balls by whacking his 17th of the season.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
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Last year, Reese committed a flagrant foul on Clark by whacking her on the head as Clark went up for a layup.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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