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: thrash, whip, lick

3. to denounce or criticize vigorously.

clobber

²

[ klob-er ]

noun

, British, Australian Slang.

1. (used with a plural verb) clothes ( def 1 ).

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 /

verb

1. tr to paint over existing decoration on (pottery)

clobber

³

/ ˈklɒbə /

noun

1. slang.
   personal belongings, such as clothes and accessories

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 (originally in the sense: to patch up): of uncertain origin; perhaps related to clobber ²

Origin of clobber³

C19: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

They found that the combined frequency of intense storm surge and rainfall that clobbers the coastline may increase by seven to 36 times in the southern US and 30 to 195 times in the Northeast.

From Popular-Science

To speak of it is to jinx it, and likelier than not, you’ll get clobbered in the eighth.

From Time

A surge in coronavirus cases that clobbered San Diego during the holidays also hit a few of the city’s homeless shelters, setting off a scramble last week to isolate residents who had been staying in packed shelters.

From Voice of San Diego

I wanted him to think I was cool, and anyway, even if I had protested, he wouldn’t have heard me over the cochlea-clobbering decibels generated by the amplifier in the trunk.

From Outside Online

Weekday ridership was clobbered by those who had the option to work from home.

From Washington Post

How can you talk about conciliation and bipartisanship…and then go out there and rip and snort and clobber the House Republicans?

From The Daily Beast

So does Christie really think he could clobber President Obama in 2012?

From The Daily Beast

It was evident that we were being driven and so long as we went to their satisfaction they weren't going to clobber us.

From Project Gutenberg

And it anybody tries to slug you back, like I did just now, duck it and clobber him in another unprotected spot.

From Project Gutenberg

Now to get rid of this respectable clobber and feel like a man again.

From Project Gutenberg

I suggest to you, Brassbound, that the clobber belongs to Lady Sis.

From Project Gutenberg

Bey said, "If we can stop waxing philosophic for a while and get back to how most efficiently to clobber these Arabs—"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• drub
• smother
• thrash
• wallop