shellacking

1 of 2

noun

shel·​lack·​ing shə-ˈla-kiŋ 

: a decisive defeat : drubbing

shellacking

2 of 2

present participle of shellac entry 2

Synonyms of shellacking

Noun

• defeat
• loss
• beating
• setback

Examples of shellacking in a Sentence

Noun

They took a shellacking in yesterday's game.

suffered a shellacking at the hands of a vastly superior opposition

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The progressive state representative delivered a shellacking to her moderate, cash-flush opponent, Alex Vindman, in the Florida Democratic primary for Senate. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

All that said, Britons’ appetite to hand a shellacking to Starmer and the political establishment appears undimmed. — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 8 May 2026

Played by a Colman Domingo who is done up to look the most wax figurine of them all in a shellacking of makeup, prosthetics, and colored contacts, Joe is always either giving an avaricious open-mouthed leer or a cold-eyed glare. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026

Norway will be appearing at their first major tournament since Euro 2000, but having plundered a remarkable 37 goals in their eight qualifying matches (which included an 11-1 shellacking of Moldova in which Haaland scored five goals), Stale Solbakken’s side could be one of the teams to watch. — Tom Williams, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shellacking

• attacking
• backpacking
• backtracking
• hijacking
• kayaking
• meatpacking
• ransacking
• repacking
• unpacking
• backing
• blacking
• clacking

Kids Definition

shellacking

noun

shel·​lack·​ing

shə-ˈlak-iŋ

: a lopsided defeat