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

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

In the eighth, he clobbered a leadoff home run deep to right field for his 50th long ball of the season, making him just the sixth player in MLB history with consecutive 50-homer campaigns.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Skipping their origin story keeps things tight while underlining the idea that these are settled-down grown-ups secure in their abilities to lengthen, disappear, ignite and clobber.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s a magpie movie that’s happy to give audiences the tinselly things they want — i.e., two robots clobbering the Wi-Fi out of each other.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drub 
• smother 
• thrash 
• wallop