as in hammering
Related Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of bashing
Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The target of our petty president’s latest bashing is Pope Leo XIV, the first American leader of the Catholic Church, who seems to be a guy with Midwestern common sense.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Which seems like the anxiety Chalamet was trying to express with his needless opera bashing.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Several former players have had enough of the Bam bashing.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
But Beshear hasn’t turned Trump-bashing into a 24/7 vocation, or a weight-lifting contest where the winner is the critic wielding the heaviest bludgeon.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Powell, known for a cool head and a quiet demeanor, has consistently avoided direct confrontations with Trump, even as the president's personal displeasure with the Fed chair escalated from behind the scenes pressure to public bashing.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
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
Emily Chang, ABC News, 18 May 2026
Woman-bashing plays well on social media and sells lots of ads for crypto, sports betting, and supplements.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Elon Musk is back to bashing The Odyssey and Christopher Nolan‘s decision to cast Lupita Nyong’o in the epic film.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Milei, at odds with the press to a degree unseen since the 1983 restoration of Argentine democracy, has escalated his media-bashing in recent weeks as his flagship campaigns against corruption and inflation falter.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The combat element of Galactic Racer appears to be mostly centered around bashing into other racers to take them down (the folks at Fuse hail from the house of Burnout, after all), which is another MotorStorm-like wrinkle.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 30 Apr. 2026
After Saturday’s incident, the Trumps were furious, with both the president and first lady bashing Kimmel’s statement.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 30 Apr. 2026
But things got wild when the robot started break dancing and bashing itself into a million robotic pieces.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
But the data showed his cheesesteaks were very much alive and selling daily by the thousands, no matter who was bashing them online.
—Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
Britain’s surging Green Party is making the bashing of Israel a centerpiece of its platform.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The target of our petty president’s latest bashing is Pope Leo XIV, the first American leader of the Catholic Church, who seems to be a guy with Midwestern common sense.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Which seems like the anxiety Chalamet was trying to express with his needless opera bashing.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Several former players have had enough of the Bam bashing.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
But Beshear hasn’t turned Trump-bashing into a 24/7 vocation, or a weight-lifting contest where the winner is the critic wielding the heaviest bludgeon.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Powell, known for a cool head and a quiet demeanor, has consistently avoided direct confrontations with Trump, even as the president's personal displeasure with the Fed chair escalated from behind the scenes pressure to public bashing.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
Hegseth echoed Trump in bashing Massie, who has often spoken out against the president's agenda, which has prompted the president to support Gallrein in an effort to oust Massie.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 18 May 2026
Woman-bashing plays well on social media and sells lots of ads for crypto, sports betting, and supplements.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Elon Musk is back to bashing The Odyssey and Christopher Nolan‘s decision to cast Lupita Nyong’o in the epic film.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Milei, at odds with the press to a degree unseen since the 1983 restoration of Argentine democracy, has escalated his media-bashing in recent weeks as his flagship campaigns against corruption and inflation falter.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The combat element of Galactic Racer appears to be mostly centered around bashing into other racers to take them down (the folks at Fuse hail from the house of Burnout, after all), which is another MotorStorm-like wrinkle.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 30 Apr. 2026
After Saturday’s incident, the Trumps were furious, with both the president and first lady bashing Kimmel’s statement.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 30 Apr. 2026
But things got wild when the robot started break dancing and bashing itself into a million robotic pieces.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
But the data showed his cheesesteaks were very much alive and selling daily by the thousands, no matter who was bashing them online.
—Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bashing
Noun
-
Once the roads open and the Miura’s tachometer sweeps past 4,000 rpm, your ears are nourished by a cultured snarl that builds to a hammering roar.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
18 May 2026
-
Wrexham were fourth bottom of the fledgling table after the third of those three losses, a 3-1 hammering by Queens Park Rangers.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
This can happen in transport, on store shelves, or even when bumping around in your crisper drawer.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
-
Terminus always made sure their arrival came just after nightfall when the streetlights were lit and families were sitting back with full bellies bumping against their dinner tables, houses quiet; all conversation having already been spent between forkfuls of food and hearty swallows of drink.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Footage of the game then showed George hobbling back to the dugout, slamming his helmet in frustration.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Reyes is accused of intentionally slamming his SUV into the rear of the ICE agent's white pickup truck while the officer was performing official duties, according to the indictment.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Even small exposures—such as licking pollen off fur or drinking water from a vase containing lilies—can be toxic.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 May 2026
-
Vietnamese-style sweet-and-spicy chicken wings are a hot, finger-licking mess.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
At times, though, Gordon’s decision-making in the attacking third and in front of goal can be lacking.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Brookline Fire says one employee suffered minor burn injuries, and a firefighter got a laceration while attacking the fire.—
Mike Sullivan,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Arsenal enters the match as the favorite, but Sporting has been resilient in the Champions League, rebounding from a 3-0 loss to tournament darlings Bodo/Glimt with a 5-0 thrashing in Lisbon.—
Pueng Vongs,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His only Champions League goal arrived in January’s 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag, and his only assists in the competition came in similarly comfortable wins over Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The new transmission responded more quickly and reduced involuntary head banging in the car’s cabin.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
28 May 2026
-
Levu remained hot, banging home an RBI single in the bottom of the third, cutting the deficit by a run.—
Jack Vita,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
The squad congregated outside the dressing room, slapping hands and hugging each other.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
-
Video from the incident shows Shields slapping Baumgardner's hand to punctuate a heated exchange.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bashing. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
