bludgeon

1 of 2

noun

blud·​geon ˈblə-jən How to pronounce bludgeon (audio)
1
: a short stick that usually has one thick or loaded end and is used as a weapon
2
: something used to attack or bully
the bludgeon of satire

bludgeon

2 of 2

verb

bludgeoned; bludgeoning; bludgeons

transitive verb

1
: to hit with heavy impact
was bludgeoned to death
2
: to attack or overcome by aggressive argument : bully
mental bludgeoning
We do not talk—we bludgeon one another with facts and theories …Henry Miller

Examples of bludgeon in a Sentence

Noun guards armed with bludgeons roamed the compound Verb remodelers bludgeoned the wall with a sledgehammer to join the two rooms the boxer bludgeons opponents with an assortment of punches
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Peace in Ukraine and the Middle East is proving to be far harder to achieve than the real estate deals envisaged by the president, while the bludgeon of tariffs is raising ever more opposition among erstwhile allies. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025 Mishra then abruptly juxtaposes a scene from Gaza, flush with heavy-handed language that bludgeons home his comparison. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
According to court documents, her daughter Sarra, who suffered from schizophrenia, stabbed her mother 227 times and ultimately bludgeoned her with a fire extinguisher. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 31 Mar. 2025 This same trait also makes people less likely to bludgeon the machines—a factor that could become increasingly important as humanoid robot manufacturers push for wider adoption across various industries. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bludgeon

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

verbal derivative of bludgeon entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bludgeon was in 1730

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bludgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bludgeon. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

bludgeon

1 of 2 noun
blud·​geon ˈbləj-ən How to pronounce bludgeon (audio)
: a short club with one end thicker and heavier than the other

bludgeon

2 of 2 verb
: to hit very hard : beat

More from Merriam-Webster on bludgeon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!