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
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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
as in hammering
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bashing
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 8 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
Collier took the podium for her postseason exit interview with reporters on Tuesday, beginning the press conference with a lengthy prepared statement bashing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and league leadership.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 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
In the email, Ferguson apologized for publicly bashing Epstein, who was sent to prison three years prior for soliciting a minor for prostitution, in an interview.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 26 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
The young defense that everyone with a microphone and stable internet connection has spent time bashing over the last nine months finally had its turn to speak.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
In 2025, for all the play’s bickering and bashing, the eventual trajectory of Art feels almost saccharine.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Office Space alum, 58, is teaming up with HP to share a 2025 take on the office comedy's iconic printer-bashing scene.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 8 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
Collier took the podium for her postseason exit interview with reporters on Tuesday, beginning the press conference with a lengthy prepared statement bashing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and league leadership.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 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
In the email, Ferguson apologized for publicly bashing Epstein, who was sent to prison three years prior for soliciting a minor for prostitution, in an interview.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 26 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
The young defense that everyone with a microphone and stable internet connection has spent time bashing over the last nine months finally had its turn to speak.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bashing
Verb
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The Chiefs were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles—at one point, the score was 34–0—and Kelce was spotted on the sidelines screaming at and bumping the Chiefs’ coach, Andy Reid.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
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Some other popular institutions also have extended hours on certain days year-round, which allows visitors to enjoy world-class artworks without bumping elbows with others.—
Blane Bachelor,
AFAR Media,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After facing controversy for slamming the inclusion of a same-sex couple in Disney’s 2022 movie Lightyear, Snoop Dogg has changed his tune.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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Stein responded on Monday to the GOP statehouse leaders' announcement by slamming them for failing voters and calling out how the state legislature has yet to pass a budget.—
Brittany Shepherd,
ABC News,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The sugars in the glaze coat the chicken and carrots to create a finger-licking delicious dinner.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
-
And the Trojans’ defense that came in licking its wounds after allowing 502 yards in a last-gasp loss at Illinois two weeks ago?—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 2019-20 and 2020-21, just six per cent of throw-ins from the attacking third were sent into the penalty area.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
And, while large-scale armies were attacking one another with a vast arsenal of technological advancements, De Stijl architects and theorists were observing great opportunities for a better world based on this massive scale and these new technologies.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The 4-0 hammering in France has seen Ajax’s chance of elimination before the knockout stage rise to 85 per cent.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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There and at Jebel Misma, the team found stone-hammering tools left behind by the artists in layers of sediment dating back 12,000 years.—
Martin J. Kernan,
Scientific American,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Gilbert, who graduated from the district’s New School For Community Service in 2008, recalled banging the rhythm on his desk as a teenager.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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One of the loudest voices was 29-year-old Neil Lothamer, of Indianapolis, who added pot-banging to his chorus.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As EPs, celebrities might do anything from simply slapping their name on a poster to glad-handing for an awards campaign to getting deeply involved in production.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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Violeta Santos Moura | Reuters Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused China of trying to weaken the global economy by slapping export controls on resources vital for technology.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Led by blaring ‘80s synthesizers and a pounding beat, the song features a distorted lead vocal from D’Angelo, who accompanies himself on multitracked backing vocals with the occasional soul shriek thrown in for good measure.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
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John Candy famously took a racquetball to the skull in a key comedic scene from the 1984 film Splash — and fellow actor Tom Hanks recalls that his late costar's head might've been pounding already after Candy spent the night before drinking with Hollywood icon Jack Nicholson.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bashing. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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