lambaste

verb

lam·​baste (ˌ)lam-ˈbāst How to pronounce lambaste (audio) -ˈbast How to pronounce lambaste (audio)
ˈlam-ˌbāst,
-ˌbast
variants or lambast
lambasted; lambasting; lambastes or lambasts

transitive verb

1
: to assault violently : beat, whip
2
: to attack verbally : censure
critics lambasted his performance

Did you know?

The origins of lambaste (which can also be spelled lambast) are somewhat uncertain, but the word was most likely formed by combining the verbs lam and baste, both of which mean “to beat severely.” (This baste is unrelated to either the sewing or cooking one.) Although lambaste started out in the 1600s meaning “to assault violently,” English speakers were by the 1800s applying it in cases involving harsh attacks made with words rather than fists. This new sense clearly struck a chord; after fighting its way into the lexicon, lambaste has held fast ever since.

Examples of lambaste in a Sentence

The coach lambasted the team for its poor play. They wrote several letters lambasting the new law.
Recent Examples on the Web But the 2022 election of right-wing President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, who has lambasted any press critical of him, has started to chip away at that safe haven. Justine Calma, The Verge, 3 May 2024 Fans immediately and aggressively lambasted the move, calling it a slap in the face to viewers and citing the recent Rooster Teeth shutdown as an example of why this model is doomed to fail. Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 1 May 2024 Republican lawmakers have for months lambasted elite schools over a surge in pro-Palestinian protests that have sparked sporadic incidents of violence against Jewish students. Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr. 2024 Arizona’s current senators — outgoing independent Kyrsten Sinema and Democrat Mark Kelly — lambasted the decision for endangering women’s health and pressuring doctors. Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024 As business boomed, advocates lambasted the industry for its practices. Heather Vogell, ProPublica, 21 Mar. 2024 The pricey Fox acquisition, while lambasted by Peltz and others, gave Disney a programming arsenal to support its streaming ambitions. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024 The government lambasted the farmers for failing to contain violent elements that threw e-bikes off a bridge and set the entry to a subway station aflame. Raf Casert, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024 If members of Congress have concerns about personnel policy in the Pentagon, there are ways to address it other than publicly lambasting senior military leaders—such as by exercising their regular oversight responsibilities through committees tasked with monitoring the armed forces. Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lambaste.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from lam entry 1 + baste

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lambaste was in 1620

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Dictionary Entries Near lambaste

Cite this Entry

“Lambaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lambaste. Accessed 14 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

lambaste

verb
lam·​baste
variants or lambast
lambasted; lambasting
1
2
: to scold roughly

More from Merriam-Webster on lambaste

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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