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
Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
In some ways, Biden acted preemptively, not just to spare his son but also to avoid handing Trump yet another political cudgel.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 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
Some in Trump’s orbit have advocated wielding U.S. military aid to Ukraine as a cudgel against whichever party proves intransigent in the talks: either by threatening to ramp up assistance to Kyiv to put the screws on Russia or to cut it off if Ukraine refuses to make the necessary compromises.
—Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
In some ways, Biden acted preemptively, not just to spare his son but also to avoid handing Trump yet another political cudgel.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 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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High fructose corn syrup usage in the US has declined over the last two decades while table sugar, made from cane or beet, has been on the rise.—
Mark Dent,
thehustle.co,
10 Jan. 2025
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Fourth, crossing canes can become intertwined and obstruct quality blooms and new canes.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In it, a nanny is found bludgeoned to death in the park.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2025
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Officers are bludgeoned and sprayed with chemical irritants during a two-hour struggle.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA TODAY,
4 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Cheryl Toussaint was on edge waiting for the baton in the early heats of the 4×400 meter relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.—
Tony Paige,
New York Daily News,
25 Jan. 2025
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And Capitol surveillance footage shows police trying to recover the baton from Clayton, whose right hand makes contact with one of the officers.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
22 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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In a statement, Tim Scott, R-S.C., incoming chair of the Senate Banking Committee, assailed Barr both for his push for tougher regulations and inadequate oversight that helped lead to a bank run and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and related failures at other regional banks in early 2023.—
Paul Davidson,
USA TODAY,
6 Jan. 2025
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Many online also praised Luigi Mangione, the murder suspect, who assailed large corporations in writings found by police.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Packages of cucumbers—that had been either chopped, sliced, or speared—had initially been recalled last month amid fears they may be contaminated with the potentially deadly food poising bug.—
John Mac Ghlionn,
Newsweek,
14 Jan. 2025
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The menu also includes fish and chicken sandwiches, wings, milkshakes, chopped salads and more.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Barkley smacked them for 296 yards and four TDs in the regular season.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
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During that period, Ichiro smacked 2,533 of his 3,089 Major League hits, ranking him 25th on MLB’s all-time hits list.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The rings probably formed from an icy moon of Saturn getting whacked, hard, by an incoming object, perhaps even another moon.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2025
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However, compared to a quantum clock, atomic clocks are as accurate as a one-dollar antique pocket watch that's been whacked several times with a coal hammer.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near cudgel
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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