1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
a tyrannical father who used the dinner hour to baste his children for their many perceived shortcomings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
basted the thief with a stick while he cried out for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 baste
Nestle the pork directly on the veggie bed and roast for up to 2 hours more, basting the veggies and pork every 20 minutes, until the internal temperature of the pork reads 165 degrees and the veggies are tender and golden.
—
John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Silicone Craft Series Basting Brush Grillmasters and bakers swear by this silicone basting brush that’s designed with an ergonomic handle and made from heat-resistant, conical bristles.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Continue roasting another 2 to 2 1/2 hours, basting with the pan juices every 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Sturgeon from the Delaware River were likely fastened to a spit and basted with butter, then sprinkled with flour, nutmeg, mace, salt, sweet herbs, and breadcrumbs before being dressed in a tangy sauce that usually included anchovy, lobster, lemon, horseradish, and white wine.
—Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baste
John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Silicone Craft Series Basting Brush Grillmasters and bakers swear by this silicone basting brush that’s designed with an ergonomic handle and made from heat-resistant, conical bristles.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Continue roasting another 2 to 2 1/2 hours, basting with the pan juices every 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Sturgeon from the Delaware River were likely fastened to a spit and basted with butter, then sprinkled with flour, nutmeg, mace, salt, sweet herbs, and breadcrumbs before being dressed in a tangy sauce that usually included anchovy, lobster, lemon, horseradish, and white wine.
—Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baste
Verb
-
But Saxon said Ye kept him constantly on edge, demanding photo updates of construction work, scolding him for wearing blue instead of the all-black worker uniform Ye preferred, and suddenly adding 24/7 security duties to his workload.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
25 Feb. 2026
-
In Zambrano’s case, Gee scolded the government over how the detention unfolded.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Legend has it that when Buddha was painting the sky, blue pigment dripped onto the floor and his inquisitive chow chow licked the puddle, coloring the dog’s tongue permanently.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Son disappeared from public view, licking his wounds while also plotting his comeback.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That includes lecturing, building curriculum, pursuing research and speaking about university policy.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Vance’s speech got a cool reception from European leaders who said they felt lectured.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This beloved Italian restaurant is hiding in a Homewood neighborhood.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Abdul Hadi spent his days hiding in hovels in distant parts of Syria, turning his mind obsessively over the old days of revolution, over fleeting encounters and terrible choices.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The move was fiercely criticized by Epstein’s victims and their advocates.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
His role, Reggie Porter Montgomery, was originally played by the late Chadwick Boseman — his future Black Panther costar — who was fired after just one week on set for criticizing Reggie's character arc for playing into racial stereotypes.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In recent days, the president has remained defiant on the issue, lashing out at the justices for delivering a legal setback on his tariffs, and looking to impose new global tariffs in a different way.—
Ana Ceballos
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The governor’s office said state highway officials are redeploying road equipment to the South Coast area as the region continues to be lashed by the brunt of the ongoing storm.—
Todd Prussman,
Boston Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Still, don’t discount the power of comforting or reprimanding statements, because both are necessary in their own ways.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
On WhatsApp, her mother reprimanded her for being too trusting of others—even of relatives.—
Jordan Salama,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To prove how great his feet are, Blanco then whipped off his shoes and insisted the camera zoom in on his foot.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Though both storms are similar — with a major storm system lingering over the region for over a day and whipping the region with merciless hurricane-level winds, driving inch after inch of wet snow — what made the 1978 storm so devastating was the apparent suddenness of its arrival.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baste. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
