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
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
In 2025, for all the play’s bickering and bashing, the eventual trajectory of Art feels almost saccharine.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Every other email Newsom’s staff pushes out has something bashing Trump, as Gavin campaigns for the White House using California taxpayer dollars.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
The emotional clip finds Justin and King sitting down in a home theater as soundbites and news articles bashing their father throughout the trial are played on a loop.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Dec. 2025
Although the gameplay feels more grounded and horizontal, id Software creates epic moments when the Doom Slayer will be flying through the air aboard a Wintherin or bashing building-sized demons in an Atlan mech.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
The annual Dakar Rally may be best known for the sandstorming, badlands-bashing trucks, buggies and motorcycles that compete within its map boundaries, but the event has also inspired some radical on- and off-road support rigs and RVs.
—New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2025
Still, after bashing Republicans for months on the urgency of averting the cost cliff, Democrats would also face their own pressures to swallow the policy changes in order to secure an extension of the subsidies — and relief for millions of Americans.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
Yet there was freedom to trash bashing, a willingness to lose myself in the creative process, that was distinct from my feelings about writing.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Most recently, the White House featured the music of Carpenter's friend and collaborator Taylor Swift in a TikTok video celebrating the president, despite his history of bashing the singer on social media.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025
Noun
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
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
But the damage this episode of Europe-bashing and open colonial avarice has done is real and enduring.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Every other email Newsom’s staff pushes out has something bashing Trump, as Gavin campaigns for the White House using California taxpayer dollars.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
The emotional clip finds Justin and King sitting down in a home theater as soundbites and news articles bashing their father throughout the trial are played on a loop.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Dec. 2025
Although the gameplay feels more grounded and horizontal, id Software creates epic moments when the Doom Slayer will be flying through the air aboard a Wintherin or bashing building-sized demons in an Atlan mech.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
The annual Dakar Rally may be best known for the sandstorming, badlands-bashing trucks, buggies and motorcycles that compete within its map boundaries, but the event has also inspired some radical on- and off-road support rigs and RVs.
—New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2025
Still, after bashing Republicans for months on the urgency of averting the cost cliff, Democrats would also face their own pressures to swallow the policy changes in order to secure an extension of the subsidies — and relief for millions of Americans.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
Yet there was freedom to trash bashing, a willingness to lose myself in the creative process, that was distinct from my feelings about writing.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Most recently, the White House featured the music of Carpenter's friend and collaborator Taylor Swift in a TikTok video celebrating the president, despite his history of bashing the singer on social media.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bashing
Noun
-
Eric Freeny blocked Smith, Bilodeau grabbed the loose ball and threw an outlet to Dailey for a hammering dunk.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Moscow has kept up its hammering of Ukraine’s energy grid in overnight attacks that killed at least two people, according to Ukrainian officials.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jascoco The cows stampeded into a neighborhood, knocking over mailboxes, trampling fences, and bumping into cars as they were being chased.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Video footage of the race showed the animals hopping into the road, seemingly out of nowhere, and bumping into several cyclists.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Another clip of the exchange posted by Reedy ended with Hamilton hopping into a van with other officers and slamming his door shut.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
McIntyre threw Fatu threw a table and then picked up Rhodes, slamming him into another table with a massive powerbomb.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
-
England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The president also shared clips of the video on his Truth Social handle, along with posts mocking and attacking Pretti.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Stay focused on the issue, rather than attacking the other person’s character.—
Molly Burrets,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And, the 56-22 CFP semifinal Peach Bowl thrashing of Oregon began with Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Last season’s 56-7 thrashing of former college football power Nebraska.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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My ten-year-old granddaughter was marching and banging her little saucepan with a salad spoon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Online posts questioning the city’s account continued into the week, and protesters have kept returning to the Hyatt, banging pots and chanting in subfreezing temperatures.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Part of the answer seems to be more brands willing to make early commitments that actually matter (and not just slapping logos on things) but investing in the media infrastructure that lets fans watch and follow women’s sports in the first place.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But 6-11 has a way of slapping you in the face.—
Sam McDowell
January 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bashing. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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