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
Zachary Basu, Axios, 5 Sep. 2024
The Democratic president broke days of silence on the protests with his remarks, which followed mounting criticism from Republicans who have tried to turn scenes of unrest into a campaign cudgel.
—Chris Megerian, Fortune, 2 May 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
Republicans may find success tying Harris to Biden's record on inflation, the border and other policy issues — but on family baggage, Biden's exit has deprived Trump of one of his favorite cudgels.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 5 Sep. 2024
The Democratic president broke days of silence on the protests with his remarks, which followed mounting criticism from Republicans who have tried to turn scenes of unrest into a campaign cudgel.
—Chris Megerian, Fortune, 2 May 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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Her chief cargo was rattan canes, from the island of Sumatra.Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
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Upon hearing the speech, South Carolina representative Preston Brooks used his cane to beat Sumner into unconsciousness.Blake D. Morant, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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This is good news on its own, since community colleges were flat bludgeoned with enrollment declines during the pandemic.Derek Newton, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
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Dearman worked his way through the house, bludgeoning Robert Brown, who was sound asleep in a recliner near Lester in the living room.Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
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That’s true for The War and Treaty, who want to take the baton from the hundreds of entertainers who have preceded them.Tom Roland, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024
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But how many of us really know the man wielding the baton behind the legend that is John Williams?Josh Weiss, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
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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Jurado has assailed Councilmember Kevin de León over his participation in a conversation that featured Latino political leaders making crude and racist remarks.Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
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Trump has repeatedly assailed the network on the campaign trail over the episode and has threatened to revoke CBS’s broadcasting license if elected.Reuters, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Compared to steel-cut oats (Irish or Scottish), oats groats (whole grain seed with the husk removed) have been chopped or sliced into smaller pieces.Karina Tolentino, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024
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Combine chopped chicken or eggs with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and chopped herbs for a simple, high-protein salad.Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Last night Prospect Park, smack in the middle of Brooklyn, caught fire.Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 9 Nov. 2024
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Director Bruce Goodison applies the tension well in the first two thirds of this efficient Shudder release, but then the plot smacks into a dead-end in its final act.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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When Mario raises his hammer, Luigi can whack it from below and send Mario somersaulting into a foe to deal extra damage with slapstick glee.Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
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Stanley Black & Decker reported mixed quarterly results before Tuesday’s opening bell, and the stock got whacked.Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near cudgel
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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