bludgeon

American  

[bluhj-uhn] / ˈblʌdʒ ən /

noun

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

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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 British  

/ ˈblʌdʒən /

noun

1. a stout heavy club, typically thicker at one end

2. a person, line of argument, etc, that is effective but unsubtle

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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

Other Word Forms

• bludgeoneer noun
• bludgeoner noun

Etymology

Origin of bludgeon

First recorded in 1720–30; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

If the cottonmouths hadn’t been enraged before, they were now, determined to destroy the possessed branch that had just bludgeoned three of their friends.

From Literature

“It’s because governments usually resort to blunt instruments, opting for the bludgeon of sweeping tariffs and subsidies over the scalpel of industrial parks and skills development programs.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Iran’s fledgling nuclear-weapons program, already bludgeoned by U.S. and Israeli strikes last year, is now even further from producing a viable bomb.

From The Wall Street Journal

A lack of jet fuel has bludgeoned the critical tourism sector.

From Los Angeles Times

And when they weren't doing that, Tomasso Menoncello - bound for Toulouse and more superstar days - was bludgeoning his way into space.

From BBC