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to cudgel

to cudgel

1 9.4
To hit someone with a short thick stick
  • verb
  • /ˈkʌdʒəl/
translation icon : golpear
  • The chieftain cudgels his Celt attacker across the head.

Examples

  • Sarah leans down to look, and the courier cudgels her across the neck.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • In the movie, the hero cudgelled the villain to save the innocent bystanders.

  • The soldier cudgelled the enemy soldier during the fierce battle.

  • He cudgelled the attacking animal to drive it away from the camp.

Synonyms

to slap
vsto cudgel
492 1.0

Hit quickly with the flat part of the hand

uses a small heavy stick for beating rather than a quick hand blow
to smack
vsto cudgel
164 3.5

To hit someone or something with an open hand

involves hitting with a short, thick stick not a hand strike
to lash
vsto cudgel
36 4.8

To hit something forcefully with a whip

uses a short, solid stick for hitting rather than a flexible whip
to clobber
vsto cudgel
  • NSFW
19 7.7

To hit someone or something very hard many times

specifies the use of a short, thick stick for the beating
to cane
vsto cudgel
  • NSFW
8 8.6

To beat someone with a long thin stick as punishment

involves a shorter, thicker hitting stick rather than a slim support stick
to club
vsto cudgel
8 5.1

To hit someone or something hard with a heavy stick

specifies hitting with a short, thick stick rather than any blunt object
to paddle
vsto cudgel
  • Offensive
4 7.4

To hit someone with a flat board as punishment

uses a thicker, rounded stick for striking rather than a flat board
to sledgehammer
vsto cudgel
1 7.2

To hit something very hard with a large heavy tool with a long handle

is similar forceful hitting but with a much shorter, thicker stick
to fustigate
vsto cudgel
  • NSFW
1 9.9

To hit someone with a stick or club

is the basic phrase for hitting with a short thick stick
to boff
vsto cudgel
  • NSFW
1 9.0

To hit someone or something hard, often by accident

refers specifically to striking with a short, thick stick rather than sudden blows
to pommel
vsto cudgel
  • NSFW
1 9.3

To hit someone or something again and again with your fists

involves using a short, thick stick instead of bare fists
to rod
vsto cudgel
  • Offensive
9.9

To hit someone with a stick as punishment

uses a short, thicker stick rather than a long straight implement
to sledge
vsto cudgel
7.9

To hit something hard with a heavy hammer that has a long handle

uses a compact, thick stick instead of a large hammer tool
to poleaxe
vsto cudgel
  • Archaic
9.9

To knock someone to the ground as if hit by a heavy weapon

focuses on hitting with a short, thick stick rather than heavy arms

Idioms

9.1

To think very hard to remember or solve a problem

8.9

Begin to strongly defend a person or cause in public

How Hard

to maul
  • NSFW
29 7.2
to beat
  • NSFW
1.2
to cudgel
1 9.4
to strike
553 2.4
to hit
1.0
to tap
174 1.0

Surface Forms

cudgel infinitive
cudgeling present participle
cudgels third person singular
cudgelled past
cudgelled past participle

Etymology

Cudgel as a verb grew from the noun for a short, thick stick and came to mean 'to beat with one', like hitting someone with a small club. So, to cudgel someone is to hit or beat them with a short, heavy stick.