lambaste

verb

lam·​baste (ˌ)lam-ˈbāst  -ˈbast 

ˈlam-ˌbāst,

-ˌbast

variants or lambast

lambasted; lambasting; lambastes or lambasts

transitive verb

1

: to assault violently : beat, whip

2

: to attack verbally : censure

critics lambasted his performance

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.

Synonyms

• baste
• bawl out
• berate
• call down
• castigate
• chastise
• chew out
• dress down
• flay
• hammer
• jaw
• keelhaul
• lecture
• rag
• rail (at or against)
• rant (at)
• rate
• ream (out)
• rebuke
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• score
• tongue-lash
• upbraid

Examples of lambaste in a Sentence

The coach lambasted the team for its poor play.

They wrote several letters lambasting the new law.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s critics lambasted him over his rhetoric toward Cheney, who has campaigned alongside Harris ahead of Election Day. —Brett Samuels, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024

With 11 days until Election Day, former President Barack Obama lambasted North Carolina's down-ballot GOP candidates during an Uptown rally Friday night. —Alexandria Sands, Axios, 26 Oct. 2024

Some lambasted Amazon’s direction under Andy Jassy, who assumed the chief executive officer role from co-founder Jeff Bezos three years ago. —Byspencer Soper and Bloomberg, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2024

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance closed out the first and only debate against his Democratic counterpart, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, by lambasting the policies put in place during the Biden administration. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from lam entry 1 + baste

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

lambaste

verb

lam·​baste

variants or lambast

(ˈ)lam-ˈbāst  -ˈbast 

lambasted; lambasting

1

: strike entry 1 sense 2a, beat

2

: to scold roughly