bludgeon

[ bluhj-uhn ]

/ ˈblʌdʒ ən /

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See synonyms for: bludgeon / bludgeoned / bludgeoning / bludgeons on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

verb (used with object)

to strike or knock down with a bludgeon.

to force into something; coerce; bully: The boss finally bludgeoned him into accepting responsibility.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of bludgeon

First recorded in 1720–30; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM bludgeon

bludg·eon·er, bludg·eon·eer

[bluhj-uh-neer], /ˌblʌdʒ əˈnɪər/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bludgeon in a sentence

Last year, House Republicans had to be bludgeoned into renewing the Violence Against Women Act.
100 Years of Right (And Left) Moves|Robert Shrum|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Steck crumpled to the moraine, and it looked as though he'd be bludgeoned to death.
Breaking Mount Everest’s Glass Ceiling|Amanda Padoan, Peter Zuckerman|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Caterpillar notched record profits in 2012 and then in early 2013 bludgeoned its unions into accepting a six-year wage freeze.
Henry Ford Understood That Raising Wages Would Bring Him More Profit|Daniel Gross|January 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On one block, a group of preteens bludgeoned a parked car bearing Syrian tags.
Turkey Blames Syria for Reyhanli Bombs, but Response May Rest on U.S.|Mike Giglio|May 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Zainab, 7, was shot in the shoulder and bludgeoned with a blunt weapon, leaving her with a fractured skull.
Young Girl May Hold Key to Grisly Alps Murders|Barbie Latza Nadeau, Tracy McNicoll|September 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Although Canadians were anxious for trade relations, they were not willing to be bludgeoned into accepting one-sided terms.
The Canadian Dominion|Oscar D. Skelton
Bludgeoned a captain on his ship but the man's wife held on to him and yelled till rescue came.
Port O' Gold|Louis John Stellman
Bludgeoned by obvious hints the stranger excused himself, and as soon as he was gone my companion leaned towards me.
Behind the Scenes in Warring Germany|Edward Lyell Fox
At nine, all pretense is dropped that its still daylight and colours lie bludgeoned--extinguished in the dark.
The Land of Look Behind|Paul Cameron Brown
With this new and triple-headed engine Britain was to be bludgeoned into submission.
The Fleets Behind the Fleet|W. MacNeile (William MacNeile) Dixon

British Dictionary definitions for bludgeon

bludgeon

/ (ˈblʌdʒən) /

noun

a stout heavy club, typically thicker at one end

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

verb (tr)

to hit or knock down with or as with a bludgeon

(often foll by into) to force; bully; coercethey bludgeoned him into accepting the job

Derived forms of bludgeon

bludgeoner, noun

Word Origin for bludgeon

C18: of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bludgeon

Origin of bludgeon

OTHER WORDS FROM bludgeon

Words related to bludgeon

How to use bludgeon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bludgeon

Derived forms of bludgeon

Word Origin for bludgeon