lambaste
verb
-ˈbast
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
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
Berube lambasted his team after the coach’s challenge, berating his team for its lack of shots on net.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
But that hasn't prevented Johnson, who has been lambasted for spreading misinformation in the past, from supporting the discredited doctor's claims that chlorine dioxide, a chemical used for disinfecting and bleaching, can help treat autism, COVID, cancer and a host of other ailments.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Trump has frequently shown himself a strong economic messenger — winning reelection in 2024 by lambasting Joe Biden's economy.
—December 12, NPR, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lambaste
Cite this Entry
“Lambaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lambaste. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.
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lambaste
verb
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