lambaste

verb

lam·​baste (ˌ)lam-ˈbāst  -ˈbast 

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.

Synonyms

• baste
• bawl out
• berate
• call down
• castigate
• chastise
• chew out
• dress down
• flay
• hammer
• jaw
• keelhaul
• lecture
• rag
• rail (at or against)
• rant (at)
• rate
• ream (out)
• rebuke
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• score
• tongue-lash
• upbraid

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

The former president has repeatedly lambasted the case brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, claiming the prosecution was politically motivated and designed to harm his candidacy for the White House. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 May 2024

President Joe Biden threatened earlier this month to withhold some weapons shipments from Israel if Netanyahu ordered a major invasion of Rafah—a move Biden has not yet followed through with but which was nonetheless lambasted by Haley on Tuesday. —Koh Ewe, TIME, 29 May 2024

Copeland’s resignation as program director came as Jason Barrett, the owner of trade publication Barrett Sports Media, lambasted his social media behavior. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024

President Biden also lambasted the prosecutor and supported Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas. —Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from lam entry 1 + baste

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

lambaste

verb

lam·​baste

variants or lambast

(ˈ)lam-ˈbāst  -ˈbast 

lambasted; lambasting

1

: strike entry 1 sense 2a, beat

2

: to scold roughly