to bludgeon

Examples

• All

• What I and others object to is the blatant fearmongering that's been used to try and bludgeon us into voting for a single candidate based on one issue.

  Blog text (29)

• But I do agree that they are not there to bludgeon someone with your opinion.

  Blog text (23)

• Look, We Both Want To Know What Happened, But Let's Just Try To Coax Her To Talk, Not Bludgeon Her.

  Fear Island (2009)

• Brodsky felt he was being bludgeoned.

  Fiction book (1992)

• They have to bludgeon a man into obscurity before they'll acknowledge his genius.

  Fay Grim (2007)

• There is the ominous specter of a "might makes right" authority system, in which bludgeoning opponents into submission becomes the accepted mode of behavior, threatening the very foundations of democracy (in cases where anything resembling democracy exists).

  Academic text (2001)

• The negotiator tried to bludgeon the opposing team into agreeing with his demands.

• Some politicians attempt to bludgeon their opponents with aggressive rhetoric during debates.

• It's not effective to bludgeon someone into changing their mind; a respectful conversation works better.

Synonyms

P

to pressure

vsto bludgeon

149 4.2

To try to make someone do something

uses stronger repeated aggressive argument and intimidation rather than general persuasion

C

to coerce

vsto bludgeon

• Offensive

91 6.4

Force someone to do something by threats

uses repeated aggressive pressure and arguments rather than only threats

B

to bully

vsto bludgeon

• Offensive

68 3.8

To scare or hurt someone, often someone weaker

uses repeated argument and pressure in addition to intimidation

T

to thrust

vsto bludgeon

41 6.7

To force something on someone, often against their will

does this mainly through repeated verbal pressure and argument not only physical imposition

H

to harass

vsto bludgeon

41 4.4

Attack an enemy again and again in small ways to wear them down

uses repeated forceful argument and pressure to make someone act

S

to strong-arm

vsto bludgeon

• NSFW

15 7.5

To force someone to do something by threats or violence

applies repeated verbal pressure and argument instead of overt physical threats

G

to goad

vsto bludgeon

14 6.9

To urge someone to act by annoying or teasing them

uses direct repeated aggressive argument to force action rather than teasing provocation

B

to browbeat

vsto bludgeon

9 8.1

To make someone do something by threatening them or using angry words

leans on repeated forceful argument and pressure rather than only stern words

P

to put a gun to someone's head

vsto bludgeon

• Offensive

8 8.3

To force someone to do something by threatening them

uses sustained aggressive argument and pressure rather than an explicit violent threat

S

to shove down someone's throat

vsto bludgeon

• Informal

2 9.1

Force someone to accept an idea they do not want

relies on repeated aggressive pressure and argument rather than gentle persuasion

T

to twist someone's arm

vsto bludgeon

• Informal

1 4.4

Get someone to agree or do something by pressuring them

relies on stronger repeated aggressive arguments rather than mild persuasion

D

to dragoon

vsto bludgeon

• NSFW

1 9.7

To force someone to do something by threats or strong pressure

uses persistent argument and pressure rather than relying on official authority

R

to ram down someone's throat

vsto bludgeon

• Informal

1 8.9

Force someone to accept ideas or opinions without their choice

applies aggressive pressure and arguments across actions, not only belief acceptance

J

to jawbone

vsto bludgeon

• Literature

1 7.9

Talk strongly to someone to try to persuade them

uses repeated private aggressive argument rather than public appeals or speeches

F

to force down someone's throat

vsto bludgeon

• Informal

1 8.3

Make someone accept ideas or opinions they do not want by pressuring them

uses sustained aggressive argument to make someone comply beyond just beliefs

B

to bullyrag

vsto bludgeon

• Offensive

9.9

To frighten or shout at someone to make them do what you want

focuses on repeated aggressive argument and pressure more than scolding

B

to ballyrag

vsto bludgeon

• Archaic

9.9

Make someone feel bad by bossing or bullying them

uses repeated aggressive argument to force agreement rather than scold

B

to blackjack

vsto bludgeon

• NSFW

8.8

To force someone to do something by threats or pressure

does this through repeated argument and aggressive persuasion rather than just threats

B

to bang some heads together

vsto bludgeon

• Informal

8.6

To make people work together by firmly telling them to stop arguing

uses repeated aggressive argument to make individuals comply rather than just settle disputes

Antonyms

E

to encourage

∞ 2.3

Give someone support and confidence so they try or keep doing something

P

to persuade

472 2.7

To make someone agree or do something by giving reasons

How Forceful

to bulldoze

29 4.2

to coerce

• Offensive

91 6.4

to bludgeon

• NSFW

6 8.2

to press

285 3.9

to urge

591 3.2

to ask

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology