lambaste

verb

lam·baste (ˌ)lam-ˈbāst

-ˈbast

ˈlam-ˌbāst,

-ˌbast

variants or lambast

lambasted; lambasting; lambastes or lambasts

Synonyms of lambaste next

transitive verb

: to assault violently : beat, whip

: 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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What to watch: Trump lambasted Powell and the Fed throughout his first term. —

Courtenay Brown, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025 One enduring image of the inauguration this year will be Trump lambasting Biden and Democrats, with many of those Democrats packed into the Capitol and even sitting in frame for his entire speech. —

ABC News, 24 Jan. 2025 Leaders in the industry, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, have lambasted bitcoin as a currency for criminals and fraudsters. —

Hugh Son, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025 Instead of being congratulated, Allen says he was lambasted for his efforts by a church volunteer who regularly dropped food off for the woman at her bench. —

Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for lambaste