Cudgel
noun
A short heavy club with a rounded head used as a weapon.
He raised the cudgel and struck a powerful blow.
Often appears as...
- wield a cudgel
- swing a cudgel
verb
To hit someone or something with a cudgel.
The robber cudgelled the man until he fell unconscious.
Often appears as...
- cudgel someone
- cudgel brutally
verb
To think hard about something, as if beating your brain.
I've been cudgelling my brains all day but can't remember where I left my keys.
Often appears as...
- cudgel one's brains
- cudgel one's memory
Usage tips
Idiomatic
noun
A short heavy club with a rounded head used as a weapon.
He raised the cudgel and struck a powerful blow.
Often appears as...
- wield a cudgel
- swing a cudgel
verb
To hit someone or something with a cudgel.
The robber cudgelled the man until he fell unconscious.
Often appears as...
- cudgel someone
- cudgel brutally
verb
To think hard about something, as if beating your brain.
I've been cudgelling my brains all day but can't remember where I left my keys.
Often appears as...
- cudgel one's brains
- cudgel one's memory
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Often Historical
The word 'cudgel' can evoke images of medieval or ancient times when clubs were common weapons.
In the museum, the ancient cudgel was displayed alongside swords and armor.
Pro Tip 2/2Symbol of Power
'Cudgel' can symbolize authority or brute force, often used negatively in modern contexts.
The dictator's speech felt like he was wielding a cudgel against dissent.
Pro Tip 1/2Often Historical
The word 'cudgel' can evoke images of medieval or ancient times when clubs were common weapons.
In the museum, the ancient cudgel was displayed alongside swords and armor.
Pro Tip 2/2Symbol of Power
'Cudgel' can symbolize authority or brute force, often used negatively in modern contexts.
The dictator's speech felt like he was wielding a cudgel against dissent.
Pro Tip 1/2Often Historical
The word 'cudgel' can evoke images of medieval or ancient times when clubs were common weapons.
In the museum, the ancient cudgel was displayed alongside swords and armor.
Pro Tip 2/2Symbol of Power
'Cudgel' can symbolize authority or brute force, often used negatively in modern contexts.
The dictator's speech felt like he was wielding a cudgel against dissent.
Never forget "Cudgel"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
It's OK to feel...
"Purpose" is another one that has become a cudgel that we use to bludgeon ourselves into thinking that we're not doing enough or that we're doing life right or that you're supposed to be more useful, more productive, you're supposed to be changing the world, or uncovering some particular talent that only you have
Video examples
It's OK to feel...
"Purpose" is another one that has become a cudgel that we use to bludgeon ourselves into thinking that we're not doing enough or that we're doing life right or that you're supposed to be more useful, more productive, you're supposed to be changing the world, or uncovering some particular talent that only you have
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Eric Swalwell
American Politician
America needs a president who knows how we live and work, who delivers on promises to those who need help, who won't use fear and hate as a political cudgel, and who works to solve our biggest problems instead of nibbling around the edges - a president who will go big, be bold, and do good, and stirs all Americans to do likewise.
Quote examples
Robert Baden-Powell
English Soldier
One of the powerful temptations is that of the cinema palace. The cinema has undoubtedly an enormous attraction for boys, and people are constantly cudgelling their brains how to stop it. But it is one of those things which would be very difficult to stop even if it were altogether desirable.
Quote examples
Andrew Breitbart
American Businessman
We just assumed that Walter Cronkite was unbiased. In hindsight, it is clear that Walter Cronkite was biased and that he used feigned objectivity as the cudgel to change the American narrative from being a right of center one to being a left of center one.
Quote examples
Jill Lepore
American Historian
Some people will always think they know how to make other people's marriages better, and, after a while, they'll get to cudgeling you or selling you something; the really entrepreneurial types will sell you the cudgel.
Quote examples
Jane Porter
Irish Novelist
The mob is a sort of bear; while your ring is through its nose, it will even dance under your cudgel; but should the ring slip, and you lose your hold, the brute will turn and rend you.
Quote examples
Alex Pareene
American Writer
Freedom from menial work should be a rallying cry, not a cudgel to be used against the Left. How much liberty is there in having to do something you hate in order to survive?
Quote examples
Pete Buttigieg
American Politician
I think there's an opportunity hopefully for religion to be not so much used as a cudgel but invoked as a way of calling us to higher values.
Quote examples
Franz Schubert
Austrian Composer
One bites into the brass mouthpiece of his wooden cudgel, and the other blows his cheeks out on a French horn. Do you call that Art?
Quote examples
Boris Pasternak
Russian Novelist
What for centuries raised man above the beast is not the cudgel but the irresistible power of unarmed truth.
Quote examples
Nikita Khrushchev
Russian Statesman
In a fight you don't stop to choose your cudgels.
Quote examples
Eric Swalwell
American Politician
America needs a president who knows how we live and work, who delivers on promises to those who need help, who won't use fear and hate as a political cudgel, and who works to solve our biggest problems instead of nibbling around the edges - a president who will go big, be bold, and do good, and stirs all Americans to do likewise.
Quote examples
Robert Baden-Powell
English Soldier
One of the powerful temptations is that of the cinema palace. The cinema has undoubtedly an enormous attraction for boys, and people are constantly cudgelling their brains how to stop it. But it is one of those things which would be very difficult to stop even if it were altogether desirable.
Quote examples
Andrew Breitbart
American Businessman
We just assumed that Walter Cronkite was unbiased. In hindsight, it is clear that Walter Cronkite was biased and that he used feigned objectivity as the cudgel to change the American narrative from being a right of center one to being a left of center one.
Quote examples
Jill Lepore
American Historian
Some people will always think they know how to make other people's marriages better, and, after a while, they'll get to cudgeling you or selling you something; the really entrepreneurial types will sell you the cudgel.
Quote examples
Jane Porter
Irish Novelist
The mob is a sort of bear; while your ring is through its nose, it will even dance under your cudgel; but should the ring slip, and you lose your hold, the brute will turn and rend you.
Quote examples
Alex Pareene
American Writer
Freedom from menial work should be a rallying cry, not a cudgel to be used against the Left. How much liberty is there in having to do something you hate in order to survive?
Quote examples
Pete Buttigieg
American Politician
I think there's an opportunity hopefully for religion to be not so much used as a cudgel but invoked as a way of calling us to higher values.
Quote examples
Franz Schubert
Austrian Composer
One bites into the brass mouthpiece of his wooden cudgel, and the other blows his cheeks out on a French horn. Do you call that Art?
Quote examples
Boris Pasternak
Russian Novelist
What for centuries raised man above the beast is not the cudgel but the irresistible power of unarmed truth.
Quote examples
Nikita Khrushchev
Russian Statesman
In a fight you don't stop to choose your cudgels.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension