as in hammering
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1
as in bumping
to come into usually forceful contact with something
the car bashed into the tree with glass-shattering force
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slamming
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
you have to bash that door hard in order to get it open
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
the angry child kept bashing her toy with a hammer until it broke
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in attacking
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
in all of talk radio no other host seems to enjoy bashing liberals as much as he does
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bashing
Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Those optics gave Democrats, particularly the moderate gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey and Virginia, room to run on the economy while largely steering clear of Trump-bashing.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
In 2025, for all the play’s bickering and bashing, the eventual trajectory of Art feels almost saccharine.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
To make matters worse, Jets owner Woody Johnson was not shy in bashing the quarterback for being a big reason that the team entered Sunday as the only winless team in the NFL.
—Mark Kern, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
To her surprise, she was met with thousands of hateful comments bashing her outfit.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Fans who attend his tour — which mostly is visiting arenas — will enthusiastically anticipate the same brand of left-bashing, divisive humor and politics that make Gutfeld, 61, one of the most popular, recognizable faces on Fox News.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025
Jeffries spent the rest of the letter bashing Republicans on healthcare, as Senate Democrats look to extract some of their own demands in any deal to fund the government and end the shutdown.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2025
Trump’s 70-minute remarks resembled those from a campaign event, touting his accomplishments and bashing his political rivals, but to an eerily quiet audience of military brass.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 30 Sep. 2025
As Extinct Animals notes, one such attempt was quashed when a lone stallion killed itself after losing its temper and bashing its own head into a wall.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Trump has also been critical of the central bank, calling for lower interest rates and bashing Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
In the same way that writing had taught me to pay attention to life, to perpetually hoover up sensory details and bits of dialogue around me, trash bashing cultivated a new propensity for seeing interesting possibilities in everyday items.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Those optics gave Democrats, particularly the moderate gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey and Virginia, room to run on the economy while largely steering clear of Trump-bashing.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
In 2025, for all the play’s bickering and bashing, the eventual trajectory of Art feels almost saccharine.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
Different than last year’s bashing, what with smoother tech.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
To make matters worse, Jets owner Woody Johnson was not shy in bashing the quarterback for being a big reason that the team entered Sunday as the only winless team in the NFL.
—Mark Kern, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
To her surprise, she was met with thousands of hateful comments bashing her outfit.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Fans who attend his tour — which mostly is visiting arenas — will enthusiastically anticipate the same brand of left-bashing, divisive humor and politics that make Gutfeld, 61, one of the most popular, recognizable faces on Fox News.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2025
Jeffries spent the rest of the letter bashing Republicans on healthcare, as Senate Democrats look to extract some of their own demands in any deal to fund the government and end the shutdown.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2025
Trump’s 70-minute remarks resembled those from a campaign event, touting his accomplishments and bashing his political rivals, but to an eerily quiet audience of military brass.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 30 Sep. 2025
As Extinct Animals notes, one such attempt was quashed when a lone stallion killed itself after losing its temper and bashing its own head into a wall.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Trump has also been critical of the central bank, calling for lower interest rates and bashing Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
—Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bashing
Noun
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The brand’s range features cultural designs made using a mix of traditional Chinese techniques, including hammering, carving, hollowing, filigree, embedding, and heat treatment of enamels.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
14 Nov. 2025
-
The sound of hammering came from outside in the driveway, where some men were building a coffin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bolstering that pair — or, even better, the second pair, and bumping down rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka to the third — would go a long way toward solidifying the blue line.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The notice also says the positions involved aren’t tied to a union, so bumping rights don’t apply.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead of slamming it home, Antetokounmpo soared over the defenders to make an improbable catch, landed and flicked an on-target pass to Rollins for a corner 3 before falling out of bounds to give Milwaukee a 14-point lead.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
His brief mention of the shutdown focused on slamming Democrats.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The sketch concluded with the librarian licking Moynihan's face with a forked tongue and then unbuttoning her blouse — causing all of the boys' heads to explode.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Others, like Ava Louise, do it through viral media stunts, like flashing the New York-Dublin Portal or licking a toilet seat in the beginning of the Covid pandemic.—
Taylor Lorenz,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Obstructing, impeding, or attacking federal law enforcement is a federal crime.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
What now is the difference between the United States attacking Venezuela in order to install new leadership and Russia invading Ukraine to effect annexation and leadership change?—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Several Dolphins achieved neat feats during the uplifting 34-10 thrashing of the Falcons in Atlanta.—
Barry Jackson
Updated October 27,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
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This home thrashing also came just a day after LSU’s board voted to increase ticket prices for 2026.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One woman carried a flag for Palestine, while a man banging a cowbell hung a flag of communist Cuba on his backpack.—
Asra Q. Nomani , Nikolas Lanum , Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Gamers have turned to walkthroughs and hints for years, but usually after banging their own heads against difficult challenges, and hence learning something in the process.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The van reaches home ground and no one talks and the only sound along that final stretch is El Camello slapping himself to scare away mosquitoes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
First, rather than slapping a latex mask and makeup on Schuster-Koloamatangi, performance capture technology is used to have Dek’s face come alive with the actor’s expressions.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bashing. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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