shellacking

noun

shel·​lack·​ing shə-ˈla-kiŋ How to pronounce shellacking (audio)
: a decisive defeat : drubbing

Examples of shellacking in a Sentence

They took a shellacking in yesterday's game. suffered a shellacking at the hands of a vastly superior opposition
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.
Roosevelt has scored 88 points in its last two games, including a 40-22 shellacking of 4A Ponderosa. Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025 The mayoral recount was requested by Domingos DaRosa, who finished third in the mayoral primary to Mayor Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft — who has since dropped out after a 49-point shellacking by Wu. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 17 Sep. 2025 That truth, that bitterness, ought to cut more sharply than the Super Bowl shellacking. Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025 Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, of the LDP, has defied calls to step down after his coalition received a shellacking in three consecutive elections under his watch. Mireya Solís, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shellacking

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shellacking was in 1931

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shellacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shellacking. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

shellacking

noun
shel·​lack·​ing
shə-ˈlak-iŋ
: a lopsided defeat

More from Merriam-Webster on shellacking

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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