bash

1 of 2

verb

bashed; bashing; bashes
Synonyms of bashnext

transitive verb

1
: to strike violently : hit
also : to injure or damage by striking : smash
often used with in
2
: to attack physically or verbally
media bashing
celebrity bashing
basher noun

bash

2 of 2

noun

1
: a forceful blow
2
: a festive social gathering : party
3
chiefly British : try, attempt
have a bash at it

Examples of bash in a Sentence

Verb I bashed my arm against the door. Someone bashed him over the head with a chair. They tried to bash the door open. Noun We threw her a birthday bash. She gave me a bash on the head.
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.
Verb
McMahon’s post earlier on Friday had amplified a scathing letter from Scott criticizing UF’s presidential search as overly secretive and bashed the university over the substantial $2 million severance payout now owed to outgoing Interim President Donald Landry. Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026 Expectations, therefore, were high for a Trump-bashing throw-down on final show on Thursday. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Noun
And then, whoops, everyone forgot Nora’s co-workers were invited to this bash, too. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 22 May 2026 Click this link to have a bash. Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bash

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

Noun

noun derivative of bash entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1744, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bash was in 1744

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bash. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

bash

verb
ˈbash
1
: to strike violently : beat
2
: to smash by a blow
3

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