as in defeat
failure to win a contest
suffered a shellacking at the hands of a vastly superior opposition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 shellacking
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Mar. 2025
But the Russian-speaking nightclub background actors lapped up Aleksei's Slavic shellacking.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
The ultimatum came two days after Trump’s reelection and just a week before a tumultuous vote in which the City Council gave Johnson a 50-0 shellacking on his proposal to raise property taxes.
—John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
This isn’t the first time Drake has had to come back from a rap battle shellacking.
—Jonny Coleman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for shellacking
Noun
Per Nielsen, viewers who watched the Eagles’ shellacking of the Chiefs on Tubi were 38% more likely to be members of the coveted adults 18-34 demo than the total-game average.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Mar. 2025
But the Russian-speaking nightclub background actors lapped up Aleksei's Slavic shellacking.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
The ultimatum came two days after Trump’s reelection and just a week before a tumultuous vote in which the City Council gave Johnson a 50-0 shellacking on his proposal to raise property taxes.
—John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
This isn’t the first time Drake has had to come back from a rap battle shellacking.
—Jonny Coleman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for shellacking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shellacking
Noun
-
In the Dodgers’ eventual 7-6 defeat, what ensued became a game-deciding sequence of a very different kind for Ohtani.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The striker, who has struggled to make an impact recently and was substituted at half-time in that defeat by City, produced an incredible finish to chip the Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and make it 2-2 with seven minutes to go.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Under the budget plan, overall NASA funding would drop to about $20 billion, down from $24.9 billion in fiscal year 2024, a loss of about 20%.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Cunningham’s injuries, also extensive, were detailed in the lawsuit, including significant disfigurement, extensive surgical reconstruction and loss of mobility.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Elle was also seen whipping her hands in a circle to the music during the awards ceremony.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
-
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
-
Prosecutors told jurors that the beatings that ultimately killed little Ayden began the day before his death.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Edgar put a beating on Rodriguez that night at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, closing Rodriguez’s left eye by the end of the second round.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Caliente – real name Bianca Castro -had in recent days suffered a serious health setback which included the loss of her right leg.—
Caroline Frost,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2025
-
The Two-Way Justice Department Issues Scathing Report On Baltimore Police Department There have been setbacks in Sandtown, too.—
Sarah Handel,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share