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
Tim Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025
The shrinkage immediately became a proof point and cudgel taken up by the state’s chest-puffing detractors.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 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
During the first Trump administration, the White House tried to use financial cudgels against sanctuary jurisdictions by denying them public safety grants that can be key for law enforcement budgets.
—Tim Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025
The shrinkage immediately became a proof point and cudgel taken up by the state’s chest-puffing detractors.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 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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In covert gatherings across California, raw goat or cow milk is mixed with cane alcohol and sugars to make pajaretes.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2025
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But you cane experience a bit of Turner and Constable’s London by making a visit to the Royal Academy of Arts, where both artists studied, although Turner earned the Academy’s prestigious designation of Royal Academician in 1802; Constable was elected years later in 1829.—
Catherine Sabino,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The investigation came after Johnson’s daughter found her mother bludgeoned to death inside her home on Feb. 1, 1991, police said at the time.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
23 Feb. 2025
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Read Next National Man arrested in death of ex-girlfriend found bludgeoned in shallow grave, NY cops say February 17, 2025 1:32 PM Read Next National Woman missing for 7 months is found dead in Ohio yard, officials say.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacramento Bee,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Here’s Why The GOP Is Divided Taking the baton from her father, who at 95, still comes in just about everyday, Annie and the next generation of Zabar’s are keeping the beloved mecca moving into the 21st century.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
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Just before the latter event, an assailant struck Kerrigan’s knee with a police baton after a practice session at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC News,
30 Jan. 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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The program, which was immediately assailed by immigrant rights advocates, targets those who have not encountered immigration officials in the past, and ratchets up Trump’s deluge of orders and policy changes intended to toughen immigration laws and facilitate deportations.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2025
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The district attorney repeatedly assailed the Police Department over the level of security in its evidence room, saying that officers had unfettered access through a gap in the wall and used a broomstick to jimmy a door.—
Neil Vigdor,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Despite intentions to develop, SMR gained Greenbelt classifications that chopped the taxable value of its agricultural property across the two counties from $302.5 million to just $3.9 million, records show.—
Josh Salman,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
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Uncover and add the diced tomatoes, chopped spinach and bell peppers.—
Angelica Stabile,
Fox News,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Yates took his anger out on a chair, smacking the bench, the redshirt freshman guard dropping 18 points and three threes to little avail.—
Luca Evans,
Orange County Register,
15 Feb. 2025
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For the last three weeks, Democrats up and down the seniority list have been stuck playing an especially frustrating game of Whac-a-Mole: smack the outrage of the hour and then race to hit the next one, never quite leveling the field.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Designed to navigate both narrow nooks and wide swaths of body hair, these tools require less prep than razor-shaving, can be used wet or dry, and whack weeds with ease.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
1 Mar. 2025
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The Zipper Carry-on Max proved very durable in our tests, showing only minor superficial scuffs and no dents at all after whacking it with a metal baseball bat and shoving it multiple times off a table while fully packed.—
Theresa Holland,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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