clobber

¹

[klob-er]

verb (used with object)

Slang.

1. to batter severely; strike heavily.

   He tried to clobber me with his club.

2. to defeat decisively; drub; trounce.

   Synonyms: lick, thrash, whip

3. to denounce or criticize vigorously.

clobber

²

[klob-er]

noun

British, Australian Slang.

1. (used with a plural verb),  clothes.

clobber

³

[klob-er]

verb (used with object)

1. to paint over existing decoration on (a ceramic piece).

clobber

⁴

[klob-er]

noun

South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. clabber.

clobber

¹

/ ˈklɒbə /

verb

1. to beat or batter

2. to defeat utterly

3. to criticize severely

clobber

²

/ ˈklɒbə /

noun

1. slang,  personal belongings, such as clothes and accessories

clobber

³

/ ˈklɒbə /

verb

1. (tr) to paint over existing decoration on (pottery)

Word History and Origins

Origin of clobber¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; origin uncertain

Origin of clobber²

First recorded in 1875–80; of obscure origin; clobber ³

Origin of clobber³

First recorded in 1850–55; earlier, “to mend, patch up (clothes or shoes)”; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of clobber¹

C20: of unknown origin

Origin of clobber²

C19: of unknown origin

Origin of clobber³

C19 (originally in the sense: to patch up): of uncertain origin; perhaps related to _clobber ²

Example Sentences

Charges began to hit the boat directly, clobbering the hull like a hammer on a pail.

Read more on Literature

He put himself on the Ashes radar by clobbering 183 for Australia A during a red-ball series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin this year, with his form continuing in the Sheffield Shield.

Read more on Barron's

An automated software tool made a mistake that clobbered what is likely the world’s largest database, an Amazon product called AmazonDB.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But at 3-3, they might look more dangerous than they did all of last year, when they squeaked out a number of close wins before getting clobbered by the Eagles in the Super Bowl.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In Texas, some athletes who might have played the state’s favorite sport in the past are now choosing to stick to the track, where there’s no chance of being clobbered by a linebacker.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• drub 
• smother 
• thrash 
• wallop