1
as in scolding
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
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2
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
basted the thief with a stick while he cried out for help
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Recent Examples of basting
Reserve the leftover marinade for basting during cooking.
—
Lexi Harrison, Midwest Living, 10 June 2026
Three hours at medium low heat with an adobada marinade, basting every hour or so.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Cook, covered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest portion of chicken breast registers 160°F and thighs and legs register 180°F, 25 to 30 minutes, basting every 5 minutes.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, basting once or twice, until caramelized and shiny.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
This set includes a silicone-tipped brush with an attached lid that also doubles as a heat shield when basting.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Cook, basting with sauce, just until warmed and cooked through, 3–4 minutes.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Brush with the yakitori sauce and continue grilling, turning and basting with the sauce every 30 seconds, until the chicken is glazed and cooked through, about 2 minutes more.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 22 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, she's interrupted by Wahlberg, 56, who calls her out for basting without her.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Lexi Harrison, Midwest Living, 10 June 2026
Three hours at medium low heat with an adobada marinade, basting every hour or so.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Cook, covered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest portion of chicken breast registers 160°F and thighs and legs register 180°F, 25 to 30 minutes, basting every 5 minutes.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, basting once or twice, until caramelized and shiny.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
This set includes a silicone-tipped brush with an attached lid that also doubles as a heat shield when basting.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Cook, basting with sauce, just until warmed and cooked through, 3–4 minutes.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Brush with the yakitori sauce and continue grilling, turning and basting with the sauce every 30 seconds, until the chicken is glazed and cooked through, about 2 minutes more.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 22 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, she's interrupted by Wahlberg, 56, who calls her out for basting without her.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for basting
Verb
-
The princess hilariously put her little brother in his place by scolding him.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
-
On March 12, the judge sought to change the journalists’ seating arrangement in court after scolding them for asking İmamoğlu questions during a hearing.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Rahm is a more tame thrill ride who should be licking his chops at a venue like this, but could succumb to the conditions and never recover.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
Monitor pets for behavioral changes, as pets may experience pain, licking or chewing at a wound, loss of appetite and lethargy.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
College professors spend less time lecturing than a typical sportswriter creating fake controversies to criticize.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
If and until that day comes, there will be fingerpointing, lecturing and posturing, all of which has flowed freely in the wake of the Sorsby decision.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Hurricane Fiona pummeled Puerto Rico in September 2022 as a Category 1 storm, lashing once more a power grid that hadn’t been rebuilt from Hurricane Maria.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
Lately, though, the president has upset religious conservatives by posting a Christ-like image of himself online as well as lashing out at Pope Leo and the Vatican.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Earlier this week, Scott Agness claimed his press credentials were revoked by the team after his reporting led to the WNBA reprimanding the Fever for not being transparent about Clark’s health status during a game on May 20.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
-
If something’s not done as far as reprimanding, what will that do to him as a student?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Joseph, Nomkhitha and the children stood silently around the dining-room table, trying to calm their pounding hearts; the littlest ones shivered from the cold and fear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
Eight miles down the road, Ragsdale’s friend and Alva’s former ESL teacher Lisa Weinstein woke up to pounding at her door.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The four leaders have also angered Trump by criticizing how he’s gone about executing the war and his lack of consultation with allies before jumping into a conflict that’s hurt the global economy as oil prices have surged.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
-
The four leaders have also angered Trump by criticizing how he's gone about executing the war and his lack of consultation with allies before jumping into a conflict that's hurt the global economy as oil prices have surged.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Vargas is accused of repeatedly whipping the cab’s hood with a belt, denting it, cops said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
-
But listening to Magazine—their new 10-track, 11-minute album—that artful density becomes singular, swaying as much as whipping between its frantic ideas.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Basting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/basting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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