What does "clobber" mean?
A beating.
Clobber
/ˈklɒb.ə(ɹ)/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A beating.
- Grammar: clobber is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: drub, thrash, attire, bang.
- Useful contrasts: draw, gentleness, lose.
- Usage evidence: I missed an opportunity to clobber him.
How to use "clobber"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "clobber" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "clobber" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "clobber" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "clobber" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "clobber" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "drub" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "clobber", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A beating. slang, uncountable
"Near-synonyms: clobbering, clubbing, thumping"
- 2 Clothing; clothes. Australia, British, slang, uncountable
"W'y, they call a man a robber if 'e stuffs 'is marchin' clobber / With the— / (Chorus) Loo! loo! Lulu! lulu! Loo! loo! Loot! loot! loot!"
- 3 A paste used by shoemakers to hide the cracks in leather. uncountable
- 4 informal terms for personal possessions wordnet
- 5 A bash on say the head, typically with a tool or object rather than with fists. uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Equipment. British, slang, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To hit or bash severely; to seriously harm or damage. slang, transitive
"So the temptation to clobber was always there, and it was sometimes more difficult not to strike than it would have been to strike, and the consequences be damned."
- 2 beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight wordnet
- 3 To overwrite (data) or override (an assignment of a value), often unintentionally or unexpectedly. slang, transitive
"It is therefore clear that the system itself must be truly "clobber proof"; that is, no user may be capable of changing anyone else's program or tying up the system in any way that would disrupt normal service to other users."
- 4 strike violently and repeatedly wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"I missed an opportunity to clobber him."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "clobber"?
Common synonyms include: drub, thrash, attire, bang, bash, baste.
How do you use "clobber" in a sentence?
I missed an opportunity to clobber him.
How do you pronounce "clobber"?
Pronounced /ˈklɒb.ə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
British slang from 1941; possibly onomatopoeic of the sound of detonated bombs in the distance.
Etymology 2
British slang from 19th century of unknown origin, perhaps from Yiddish.
Etymology 3
Of obscure origin, but compare clabber (“mud, wet clay”).