bludgeon
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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to strike or knock down with a bludgeon.
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to force into something; coerce; bully.
The boss finally bludgeoned him into accepting responsibility.
noun
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a stout heavy club, typically thicker at one end
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a person, line of argument, etc, that is effective but unsubtle
verb
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to hit or knock down with or as with a bludgeon
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(often foll by into) to force; bully; coerce
they bludgeoned him into accepting the job
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bludgeon
First recorded in 1720–30; origin uncertain
Explanation
As a noun, a bludgeon refers to a heavy club used as a weapon. Synonyms for bludgeon include truncheon, nightstick, cudgel, and billy club. The verb bludgeon developed from the noun form. It means to strike repeatedly with a heavy club or similar weapon. If you have a cockroach invasion in your kitchen, you might be tempted to bludgeon the insects with a rolled up newspaper every time you turn on the lights. The verb bludgeon is also used metaphorically to mean to roughly coerce or force someone to do something as if you had a bludgeon. If your boss is a bully, he may bludgeon you and the other employees into working long hours for little recognition.
Vocabulary lists containing bludgeon
"Invictus"
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Winning Words from the New York Times Learning Network / Vocabulary.com Student Vocab Video Contest
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Between Shades of Gray
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bludgeon ears with a musical score set in the key of bombast.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2018
At last she looked into his face, and said, with an arch smile, "Shall I send for Doctor Bludgeon and Sairy Gamp to take my place?"
From Opening a Chestnut Burr by Roe, Edward Payson
Bludgeon, blud′jun, n. a short stick with a heavy end to strike with.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
He carried a Bludgeon with a Horse's Head on it.
From People You Know by Ade, George
“Nay, sir, but Le Tordu and Ned of the Bludgeon purpose to ride over to Shields to the wise, and they will deal with her when he has found the witch’s mark.”
From Grisly Grisell by Yonge, Charlotte Mary
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
