lambaste
verb
-ˈbast
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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
Examples of lambaste in a Sentence
Eli Saslow Erin Schaff Eli Saslow, New York Times, 6 June 2024
The idea was deservedly lambasted by those on the left, right, and center.
—Tiffany Donnelly, The Mercury News, 5 June 2024
The announcement was met with some skepticism from Black consumers, who lambasted the founder for being a sellout.
—Byruth Umoh, Fortune, 5 June 2024
The Avatar movie getting a sequel can mean only one thing: a sequel for Ryan Gosling’s classic SNL sketch lambasting its logo’s use of Papyrus font.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lambaste 
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Lambaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lambaste. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
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lambaste
verb
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