lambaste
verb
-ˈbast
Did you know?
The origins of lambaste (which can also be spelled lambast) are somewhat uncertain, but the word was most likely formed by combining the verbs lam and baste, both of which mean “to beat severely.” (This baste is unrelated to either the sewing or cooking one.) Although lambaste started out in the 1600s meaning “to assault violently,” English speakers were by the 1800s applying it in cases involving harsh attacks made with words rather than fists. This new sense clearly struck a chord; after fighting its way into the lexicon, lambaste has held fast ever since.
Examples of lambaste in a Sentence
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Since then, talks between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia toward brokering a ceasefire have advanced at a glacial pace, and Trump has repeatedly lambasted Zelensky for allegedly slow-walking the process.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 23 Apr. 2025
Trump has lambasted the Fed chief for not lowering interest rates.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025
The administration has not proceeded with facilitating the return of Abrego Garcia to the U.S. after an order from the Supreme Court, a posture lambasted by a federal judge in court this week.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lambaste
Cite this Entry
“Lambaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lambaste. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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lambaste
verb
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