Thesaurus results for CUDGEL

cudgel 1 of 2

noun

ˈkə-jəl

Definition of cudgel

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

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cudgel

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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

Noun

While lawmakers have mostly thrown their backing behind the bill, some are wary of granting the president even more leeway to impose import taxes as a foreign policy cudgel. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 31 July 2026 Politicians on the right, from Bailey to Trump, have frequently used Illinois’ move to eliminate money bond as a cudgel against Democrats, blaming Chicago’s violent crime on the change. — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026

Verb

Bruce Springsteen was standing up to the president, while universities and law firms were being cudgeled and cowed. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for cudgel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cudgel

Noun

By the late 1800s, Thonet had added child-size cane seating and high chairs to its catalog.

— Steven Weill, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
Before he was dragged, Boahene was seen on the train car’s security cameras with a cane and a blue plastic bag, moving unsteadily toward the door after the train stopped at Utica Ave.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of cane

Verb

Still, some market participants see reason for hope in a market bludgeoned this year over worries about rising prices, tensions in the Middle East and stiff competition from artificial intelligence hyperscalers flooding the market with debt.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
In Northwestern’s first game at Ryan Field, Chip Kelly’s offense bludgeoned Matt Campbell’s 3-2 Penn State with 413 rushing yards, part of a 34-13 show by the 3-1 Wildcats.

— Jason Kirk, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of bludgeon

Noun

The study team gave them wooden batons and instructions to not physically harm the prisoners, but maintain law and order.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
For days, protesters have hurled rocks, flares, firebombs and fireworks at police who have used batons, water cannons and tear gas in clashes in the city center.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of baton

Verb

But the candidate started paying real attention to social strategy after a video compilation of his stump speeches assailing his then opponent, David Perdue, went viral on TikTok.

— Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026
Democratic and Republican lawmakers assailed the diesel deal, which came a month after Trump signed a bill to impose tariffs on countries that import Russian oil.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of assail

Verb

Cook 1 medium white onion, finely chopped, 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and 1½ tsp.

— Rachel Gurjar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
Maggie setting Marge on fire to stop her mom from chopping her into pieces with a kitchen knife is more subversive — and upsetting — than any Disney-era dig from The Simpsons at its corporate overlords.

— Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of chop

Verb

When the game resumed, families in the stands celebrated each time a child managed to whack the ball.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
But every season thus far — not only including but especially this one — has concluded as a perverse, whack, and certainly damning portrait of American war games in an era of steep imperial decline.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of whack

Browse Nearby Words

cuddy

cudgel

cudgeled

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“Cudgel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cudgel. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cudgel

noun

verb

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Synonyms of cudgel

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing cudgel

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

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