clobber
verb · noun
Simple meaning
To hit or bash severely.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
klahberSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈklɑbɚ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
transitiveslang
To hit or bash severely; to seriously harm or damage.
transitivecomputingslang
To overwrite (data) or override (an assignment of a value), often unintentionally or unexpectedly.
noun
A bash on say the head, typically with a tool or object rather than with fists.
slang
A thumping or beating.
A paste used by shoemakers to hide the cracks in leather.
AustraliaBritishslang
Clothing; clothes.
britishslang
Equipment.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient
- Frequency
- Rare
- Typical Use
- Primarily written
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: To hit or bash severely; to seriously harm or damage.
Used this way, clobber is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly unfavourable pull. It carries more force than its gentler alternatives. It turns up most in personal or emotional discussion and literature or storytelling contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Negative
- Formality
- Very casual
- Intensity
- Strong
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Dismissive
- Usage feel
- Playful and informal
Where it naturally appears
- Personal/emotional discussion
- Literature/storytelling
- Everyday conversation
- Social media/informal writing
Usage note
Slang: natural in speech and messages between friends, but out of place in school, work or published writing.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use clobber
- “She clobbered the man who tried to attack her.”verb
- “Did you take all your clobber?”noun
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Tap the highlighted word to open its own entry.
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “clobber” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary in short rounds that draw from words you've learned and saved.
Want to type words like this one without looking at the keyboard? Each typing round draws from words you've learned, saved or need to review. Follow the free Learn to Type lessons and type your own vocabulary with confidence.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.