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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to bludgeon
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cudgel
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2026
In the move to obliterate diversity, equity and inclusion, one word — merit — has stood out as an effective cudgel.
—Kenji Yoshino, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
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
Voices on the British Right have used the scandal as a cudgel against Labour and Starmer in particular.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2026
In the move to obliterate diversity, equity and inclusion, one word — merit — has stood out as an effective cudgel.
—Kenji Yoshino, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
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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Rabell was wearing her nightgown, sobbing, shaking and slumped against her cane when Horta picked her up, Horta said.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Our journey culminates in a gathering around the ceremonial South Pole, candy-cane striped and flanked by international flags—the symbolic marker of where all lines of longitude meet (the geographic South Pole is several feet away and must be moved every year due to geology).—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Celtics closed out their final extended road trip of the season by bludgeoning the Bucks, 133-101, at Fiserv Forum.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
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Maryland continues to bludgeon hardworking Marylanders with skyrocketing costs related to living in the state.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Good morning, Alexei Oreskovic here, taking the baton back from features editor Matt Heimer, who graciously filled in for me these last couple of days.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
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San Diego Symphony musicians will perform the opera’s score under the baton of conductor Louis Lohraseb, who is making his company debut.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But they are outnumbered by propagandists, trolls, anxious commentators, war-market gamblers, and clout chasers who, apparently, became experts on the Strait of Hormuz overnight.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
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Fielder clouted 95 over his two-year deal and 245 overall for Detroit until 1996.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In late February, the public feud escalated after Trump assailed Anthropic and ordered government agencies to stop using its technology.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Election officials and experts assailed the review, done by the security firm Cyber Ninjas—which made claims about the election process that were disputed by state and county election officials—as deeply flawed and partisan.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Western-style chefs' knives have a wider 20º angle for chopping, while most Japanese-style knives have a less aggressive 15º angle that’s adept at slicing.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
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Shaded by the forest canopy, locals chop firewood, bag recyclables or tinker with bicycles and electric scooters.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On Wednesday, the Braves had been in an 0-for-14 slump with runners in scoring position until Baldwin smacked a two-out single to left with the bases loaded in the second.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Other incidents over the years have seen fans grab at Nikki Bella or actually smacking Alex Bliss on the backside as Nia Jax was carrying her over her shoulder from a previous segment.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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President Joe Biden had that whack job named Sam Brinton as the deputy assistant director of the Department of Energy.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
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Airline stocks are getting whacked this morning thanks to the oil price surge.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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