bashes; bashed; bashing
1
a
: to cause or allow (something, such as part of your body) to hit something very hard or forcefully
She fell down and bashed [=banged] her knee against a rock.
I bashed my arm against the door.
b
: to hit (someone or something) very hard or forcefully
Someone bashed him over/on the head with a chair.
The two cars bashed [=crashed] into each other.
c
: to hurt or damage (something) by hitting or beating
They tried to bash the door open/down.
—often + inHe threatened to bash [=beat, smash] my head in.
2
: to criticize or attack (a person or group)
newspapers that use their editorial pages to bash [=harshly criticize] the president
groups accused of gay bashing [=criticizing or attacking gay people]
celebrity bashing
plural bashes
1
: a big or exciting party
We threw her a birthday bash.
2
: a hard and powerful hit or blow
She gave me a bash on the head.
Cite this Entry
“Bash.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/bash. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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