clobber

[ klob-er ]

See synonyms for: clobber clobbered on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)Slang.

to batter severely; strike heavily: He tried to clobber me with his club.
to defeat decisively; drub; trounce.

to denounce or criticize vigorously.

Origin of clobber

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; origin uncertain

Other words for clobber

2	whip, thrash, lick

See synonyms for clobber on Thesaurus.com

Words Nearby clobber

Other definitions for clobber (2 of 4)

clobber²

[ klob-er ]

nounBritish, Australian Slang.

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

Origin of clobber

First recorded in 1875–80; of obscure origin; cf. clobber³

Other definitions for clobber (3 of 4)

clobber³

[ klob-er ]

verb (used with object)

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

Origin of clobber

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

Other definitions for clobber (4 of 4)

clobber⁴

[ klob-er ]

noun, verb (used without object)South Midland and Southern U.S.

clabber.

regional variation note For clobber

See clabber.

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

How to use clobber in a sentence

They found that the combined frequency of intense storm surge and rainfall that clobbers the coastline may increase by seven to 36 times in the southern US and 30 to 195 times in the Northeast.
The future of hurricanes is full of floods—a lot of them | Kate Baggaley | February 4, 2022 | Popular-Science
To speak of it is to jinx it, and likelier than not, you’ll get clobbered in the eighth.
The James Webb Space Telescope's Mission Is Unfolding As Expected | Jeffrey Kluger | January 7, 2022 | Time
A surge in coronavirus cases that clobbered San Diego during the holidays also hit a few of the city’s homeless shelters, setting off a scramble last week to isolate residents who had been staying in packed shelters.
Homeless Shelter Outbreaks Test Isolation Efforts | Lisa Halverstadt | January 6, 2022 | Voice of San Diego
I wanted him to think I was cool, and anyway, even if I had protested, he wouldn’t have heard me over the cochlea-clobbering decibels generated by the amplifier in the trunk.
How Young Is Too Young to Drive? | wtaylor | October 2, 2021 | Outside Online
Weekday ridership was clobbered by those who had the option to work from home.
More workers are returning to the office. The pandemic-era commute might be changed forever. | Katherine Shaver, Justin George | July 30, 2021 | Washington Post

How can you talk about conciliation and bipartisanship…and then go out there and rip and snort and clobber the House Republicans?
Democrats' Negotiator in Chief | Lloyd Grove | May 19, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
So does Christie really think he could clobber President Obama in 2012?
Could Chris Christie Really Beat Obama? | Andrew Romano | March 3, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
It was evident that we were being driven and so long as we went to their satisfaction they weren't going to clobber us.
Highways in Hiding | George Oliver Smith
And it anybody tries to slug you back, like I did just now, duck it and clobber him in another unprotected spot.
Masters of Space | Edward Elmer Smith
Now to get rid of this respectable clobber and feel like a man again.
Captain Brassbound's Conversion | George Bernard Shaw
I suggest to you, Brassbound, that the clobber belongs to Lady Sis.
Captain Brassbound's Conversion | George Bernard Shaw
Bey said, "If we can stop waxing philosophic for a while and get back to how most efficiently to clobber these Arabs—"
Border, Breed Nor Birth | Dallas McCord Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for clobber (1 of 3)

clobber¹

/ (ˈklɒbə) /

verb(tr) slang

to beat or batter
to defeat utterly

to criticize severely

Origin of clobber

C20: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for clobber (2 of 3)

clobber²

/ (ˈklɒbə) /

noun

British slang personal belongings, such as clothes and accessories

Origin of clobber

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for clobber (3 of 3)

clobber³

/ (ˈklɒbə) /

verb

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

Origin of clobber

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

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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