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

“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 • Mar. 17, 2026

Liam Livingstone then arrived, full of intent, to bludgeon a pair of enormous sixes as Bethell settled at the other end but he fell before he could do any significant damage.

From BBC • Aug. 22, 2025

I think to love history and not just cherry-pick it to use as a bludgeon, you have to love complexity.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2023

After their victory, one of them triumphantly tosses his bludgeon, a masculine, violent tool, which morphs into a spaceship.

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2023

Whatever he said, the swift answer crushed him like a bludgeon.

From "1984" by George Orwell