as in baton
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
in those days corporal punishment was common, and the cane was regarded as another one of the schoolmaster's educational tools
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as in to leather
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cane
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Injured in a fall during infancy, McCombs depended on the support of a cane for the rest of his life.
—arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2024
In the nearly 250 years since its founding, the United States has witnessed its fair share of political violence, from four presidential assassinations to an 1856 caning on the Senate floor to a 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol that left at least five dead.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for cane
Noun
The chef, Heather Earnhardt, was a transplant from North Carolina, and introduced this corner of the Pacific Northwest to the joys of Boonville flour, Steen’s cane syrup, and Benton’s bacon.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Injured in a fall during infancy, McCombs depended on the support of a cane for the rest of his life.
—arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
Prune the second-year, woody canes off summer-bearing raspberries once a year after the plants fruit.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2024
In the nearly 250 years since its founding, the United States has witnessed its fair share of political violence, from four presidential assassinations to an 1856 caning on the Senate floor to a 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol that left at least five dead.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for cane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cane
Noun
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Cardoso picked up the baton from opening chef Ed Tinoco last summer, and has not looked back.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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One police officer used a speaker to order protesters to move onto the sidewalk as other officers stood in the street, batons in hand.—
Katie Langford,
The Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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News round-up Real Madrid set up El Clasico in Spain’s Supercopa by leathering Mallorca 3-0 last night.—
Phil Hay,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
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Almost from the start, Dharavi was defined by its industries: from the traditional potters of Gujarat who began arriving in the late 1800s, to leather tanners from Tamil Nadu and embroidery workers from Uttar Pradesh.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN,
29 June 2024
Verb
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About six hours later, Wang and his crew were strapping into their Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft atop their own Falcon 9.—
Tariq Malik,
Space.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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Simply strap the hands-free leash to your waist and attach the other end to your dog’s collar.—
Christopher Murray,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Speccie’s star columnist is the rudest man in Christendom, the Godzilla of contumely, an all-time non-sufferer of fools who horsewhips his targets the way Hunter S. Thompson and Christopher Hitchens once did.—
Kyle Smith,
National Review,
23 Apr. 2020
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In reality, Watson wasn’t a bar fighter or famous for horsewhipping cowboys.—
Eliza McGraw,
Smithsonian,
12 Mar. 2018
Verb
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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
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Before long, fairs had such attractions as cudgelling bouts, bearbaiting, and something called gouging.—
Zach Helfand,
The New Yorker,
14 Aug. 2023
Verb
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In recent times, the series has been painstakingly flagellating itself for the past.—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2025
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Stephens would do well to stop flagellating himself and the Never Trumpers and instead join democracy advocates in defending the rule of law in a dangerous new world.—
DP Opinion,
The Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sylvia scourges herself with an intensity that would make hairshirted flagellants seem soft.—
Jim Higgins,
Journal Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2024
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Social instability and post-pandemic economic pressures fueled surges in migration across the world. 2023 will probably be the hottest year on record, with heat waves scourging every continent, accompanied by other extreme climactic events.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
Washington Post,
22 Dec. 2023
Verb
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Treats that are hard or crunchy (such as bones or rawhide chews) Is cheese bad for dogs?—
Amber Smith,
Discover Magazine,
19 Oct. 2022
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DreamBones, a healthy alternative to rawhide, is great for dogs who love to chew, and a bag of 24 treats is 52 percent off.—
Carly Kulzer,
PEOPLE.com,
7 May 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cane. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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