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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of cudgel
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024
But in the final stretch of the race, the continuing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine as well as national-security threats from American adversaries under the Biden-Harris administration give Republicans another electoral cudgel — a world on fire.
—Audrey Fahlberg, National Review, 25 Sep. 2024
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
Mass deportations are not going to solve our immigration crisis and are a political cudgel designed by Republicans to demonize immigrants.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024
But in the final stretch of the race, the continuing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine as well as national-security threats from American adversaries under the Biden-Harris administration give Republicans another electoral cudgel — a world on fire.
—Audrey Fahlberg, National Review, 25 Sep. 2024
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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Her chief cargo was rattan canes, from the island of Sumatra.Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
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Upon hearing the speech, South Carolina representative Preston Brooks used his cane to beat Sumner into unconsciousness.Blake D. Morant, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The 1965 Dodgers were bludgeoned in Games 1 and 2 in Minnesota, Don Drysdale losing the opener, 8-2, and Sandy Koufax – who had missed that Game 1 start to observe Yom Kippur – dropping Game 2, 5-1.Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 27 Oct. 2024
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This is good news on its own, since community colleges were flat bludgeoned with enrollment declines during the pandemic.Derek Newton, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Blurry lacks a central character, instead letting the narrative flow from person to person, couple to couple, like a passed baton made up of grace and light.The Week US, theweek, 19 Nov. 2024
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Evans then allegedly turned the gun on the man, firing several shots as the victim attempted to swat away his gun with the baton.Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
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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Jurado has assailed Councilmember Kevin de León over his participation in a conversation that featured Latino political leaders making crude and racist remarks.Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
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Trump has repeatedly assailed the network on the campaign trail over the episode and has threatened to revoke CBS’s broadcasting license if elected.Reuters, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The two chopped it up about pro wrestling and the intricacies of the sport.Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
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But thinking about the days of grocery shopping and hours spent chopping, baking and standing while stirring pots is the most dreaded part of the year for some.Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 18 Nov. 2024
Verb
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With the score sitting at 14-10, Crabb smacked the ball at Banesh who parried it, his touch giving Partain the option to pass it back to his teammate.Aaron Heisen, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
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Nobody will mind if they get smacked in the head by a selfie stick, or buzzed by a drone.Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 9 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Supporters argue that the bonds are necessary because the state recently whacked about $10 billion in spending on environmental programs.Andre Mouchard, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024
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Start with a round of salty-good Ibérico ham and Parmigiano-Reggiano whacked into hunks, a playful cippolini onion dip with potato chips and a lovely plate of filleted anchovies scattered with hazelnuts and laid over tarragon-forward salsa verde.Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near cudgel
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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