as in defeat
failure to win a contest
suffered a shellacking at the hands of a vastly superior opposition
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in drubbing
to defeat by a large margin
the local football team was shellacked 35-0 in their final outing for the season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shellacking
Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2025
Following an 8-1 shellacking against the Kings on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, the Sharks (20-44-10, 50 points) showed life at 5:28 when Russian defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin connected on his second goal in 29 games this season.
—Josh Gross, Oc Register, 2 Apr. 2025
In California, Democrats gained three House seats and now outnumber Republicans 43 to 9.
Democrats suffered a trifecta loss of Washington power, but not a shellacking — nothing that a more appealing presidential candidate couldn’t have remedied.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The Warriors are 16-4 with him in the lineup, even after the shellacking.
—Danny Emerman, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shellacking
Noun
Meanwhile, the other local Fortune 500 companies took a shellacking.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2025
Following an 8-1 shellacking against the Kings on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, the Sharks (20-44-10, 50 points) showed life at 5:28 when Russian defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin connected on his second goal in 29 games this season.
—Josh Gross, Oc Register, 2 Apr. 2025
In California, Democrats gained three House seats and now outnumber Republicans 43 to 9.
Democrats suffered a trifecta loss of Washington power, but not a shellacking — nothing that a more appealing presidential candidate couldn’t have remedied.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The Warriors are 16-4 with him in the lineup, even after the shellacking.
—Danny Emerman, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shellacking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shellacking
Noun
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His only loss prior to his UFC 311 setback to Makhachev was a March 2022 unanimous decision defeat to former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a 160-pound catchweight battle.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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But at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon, teammate Max Muncy did it twice — hitting two home runs and matching a career high with seven RBIs to lift the Dodgers to a 13-7 defeat of the Washington Nationals, and make Ohtani more of the sideshow in his second pitching start of the season.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2025
Noun
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Gauff, by contrast, was 20-3 at that stage, including a loss to Sofia Kenin at Wimbledon in 2023.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
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Businesses unknowingly employ these fictitious vendors, incurring massive financial losses and data breaches.—
Steve Durbin,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Elle was also seen whipping her hands in a circle to the music during the awards ceremony.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
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This instant camera captures little moments and big occasions on film, which feels a little more special than whipping out an iPhone.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Weger was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the fatal beating of Lillian Oetting, 50, in March 1960 at the scenic park near Utica.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
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But the movie’s focus isn’t so much the zeitgeist that yields these public beatings, but rather, the strange and amusing way that a young woman present in the crowd, Maitri (Singh), uses this violence to her advantage in a moment of snap judgement.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 June 2025
Noun
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For now, however, even with setbacks in his bullpen sessions, the Guardians do expect Bieber to pitch this season.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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Today’s models often treat people recovering from financial setbacks as inherently risky, even when their day-to-day behaviors show discipline and intention.—
Gabriele Buffo,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Representative Mike Lawler of New York, who has hinted at ambitions for a governor bid in 2026, according to the New York Post, will need to walk a fine line between appeasing his party and not upsetting potential voters in his home state, which could put him at odds with Republicans.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
4 Jan. 2025
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These weeds require control to prevent upsetting the entire turf ecosystem.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shellacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shellacking. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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