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

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

UnitedHealth was lambasted in Congressional hearings for the cyberattack and a lack of security measures to keep hackers from compromising sensitive patient data. —Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 14 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