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 Republican presidential nominee has repeatedly lambasted the continent’s lack of defense spending, and has threatened to pull out of NATO, while Vance has shown ambivalence over U.S. intervention in foreign affairs. —Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 18 July 2024

Outside the courthouse, an attorney for Fisher lambasted the district attorney’s office’s handling of the case, framing it as a bid by District Attorney Pamela Price to shore up support among voters while facing a recall effort during the upcoming November election. —Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024

Continue reading … ‘STOP ACCOMMODATING IRAN’ – Republicans lambaste Biden for Israel weapons delays. —Fox News, 2 Aug. 2024

Roughly 70 congressional Democrats boycotted the speech, an uptick from the 58 who skipped Netanyahu’s 2015 address lambasting the Iran nuclear deal, the last time Netanyahu accepted a backdoor invitation from a Republican speaker against the wishes of a Democratic president. —Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 25 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from lam entry 1 + baste

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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