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 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
Paula Newton, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
Trump, meanwhile, is opposing Maine on conservative ideological grounds using federal funding as the cudgel to prevail.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Noun
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
Verb
Trump is a once in a lifetime foil for Canadian politicians, criticizing him and his policies is a campaign cudgel that is easy to land.
—Paula Newton, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
Trump, meanwhile, is opposing Maine on conservative ideological grounds using federal funding as the cudgel to prevail.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgel
Noun
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Many dressed in Black Sabbath gear and walked with canes — a nod to the Prince of Darkness’ style.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
30 July 2025
-
There’s a statue of a standing (with cane) Franklin Roosevelt, paid for by British subscribers.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Police found the 48-year-old strangled and bludgeoned to death the next morning.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 July 2025
-
After bludgeoning teams offensively for the first week of the streak, the Red Sox operated with little room for error throughout the Rays series.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Jasmine reportedly entered the car wearing black gloves and carrying another metal baton.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
23 July 2025
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Marshal Goodnight faces charges including impersonating a peace officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of a stun gun, possessing a baton and possessing a tear gas weapon, police said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
There’s a real reckoning to be made about the casting process and how to move forward, especially given the type of influence and clout the show can create for its contestants.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
14 July 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Populists in Europe and the United States assail the WTO for undercutting their manufacturing sectors.—
STACIE E. GODDARD,
Foreign Affairs,
28 July 2025
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Pesticide producers assailed Carson’s credentials, her childlessness, and, more broadly, her gender.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
27 July 2025
Verb
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Her long extensions were seemingly chopped above the shoulders and shaped in wide curls, with the exception of a tiny, tight coil positioned on her forehead.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
-
Once fully incorporated, whisk in beef stock, onion powder, garlic powder, dill and chopped pepperoncini.—
Mary Claire Britton,
Southern Living,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Williams, once an endorsement queen, wore a logo-free black dress and white visor and played uncomplicated tennis, smacking nine aces and attacking at the first strike.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
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If so, Denver has a solid duo set to fly around and smack some dudes over the middle of the field.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
16 July 2025
Verb
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Jim Wood whacked away vegetation in 2000 on a maze-like trail in Placer County nearly reaching his wits end.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 July 2025
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Agustín Ramírez then whacked a two-run homer off Twins starter David Festa 425 feet to left center.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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