bludgeon

[ bluhj-uhn ]

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.

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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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; coerce: they bludgeoned him into accepting the job

Origin of bludgeon

C18: of uncertain origin

Derived forms of bludgeon

bludgeoner, noun

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

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