bludgeon

[ bluhj-uhn ]

noun

1. a short, heavy club with one end weighted, or thicker and heavier than the other.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or knock down with a bludgeon.
2. to force into something; coerce; bully:

   The boss finally bludgeoned him into accepting responsibility.

bludgeon

/ ˈblʌdʒən /

noun

1. a stout heavy club, typically thicker at one end
2. a person, line of argument, etc, that is effective but unsubtle

verb

1. to hit or knock down with or as with a bludgeon
2. often foll by into to force; bully; coerce

   they bludgeoned him into accepting the job

Derived Forms

• ˈbludgeoner, noun

Other Words From

• bludgeon·er bludg·eon·eer [bluhj-, uh, -, neer], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bludgeon¹

First recorded in 1720–30; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of bludgeon¹

C18: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

They couldn’t use bricks and bludgeons like their enemies did, but they could use words potentially as fearsome as any weapons.

From Time

In Azerbaijan, she said, the ruling party was wielding Facebook as a bludgeon to harass the opposition.

From Quartz

He hit the tribesmen on the head with his bludgeon and “the subsequent proceedings interest him no more.”

From The Daily Beast

Instead, he rushed to use the firearms issue as one more tool to bludgeon and discredit his Republican opposition.

From The Daily Beast

Or is it too valuable to use as a bludgeon against Republicans?

From The Daily Beast

In recent cycles, the GOP has been very effective in using fossil fuel production as an electoral bludgeon against Democrats.

From The Daily Beast

“If Giannoulias loses, the Republicans and the mainstream media are going to bludgeon Obama,” said Anderson.

From The Daily Beast

He was rejoicing in the upheaval that permitted debts to be paid with a bludgeon and money to be made without toil.

From Project Gutenberg

I had this time taken care to come out provided with a stout bludgeon and a sword.

From Project Gutenberg

The secret of their power is their insensibility to blows; tickle them with a bludgeon and they laugh with a platitude.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not draw their blood personally with the usual weapons of homicide—pistol, dagger, bludgeon or ax.

From Project Gutenberg

He dealt the bludgeon blows of one who seemed to boast that he was not clever but tried to be honest.

From Project Gutenberg