thrashing

noun

thrash·​ing ˈthra-shiŋ 

plural thrashings

1

: a severe beating or flogging

If a poacher was taken he was given a thrashing as well as being prosecuted with its consequent jail sentence.

—W. Mostyn Thomas

"They called her a little blue ragamuffin, father," said Harry, who ran in looking very angry. "But I have given it to them. They won't insult my sister again. I have given them a thrashing they will remember."

—Anna Sewell

2

: a dominating defeat of an opponent

… after going 6-5 on a tough road trip that concluded with 9-2 and 12-4 thrashings of the Giants last weekend, they were 57-41 …

—Phil Taylor

Examples of thrashing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dortmund currently sits top of the Champions League standings, thanks in part to their 7-1 thrashing of Scottish side Celtic in their last European outing, but has struggled more domestically, with two defeats in their opening seven games leaving them in seventh place in the Bundesliga. —Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Valor Christian 6-1 5 W (34-6 vs. Castle View) Comment: Eagles’ response to Mountain Vista thrashing — handling solid Castle View squad — showed a lot. —Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2024

The Reddies moved to 4-1 with a 52-7 thrashing of 1-4 Oklahoma Baptist in Arkadelphia. —Rex Nelson, arkansasonline.com, 8 Oct. 2024

According to the same newspaper, less than 24 hours after that thrashing, Szczesny had already been to Barca's offices to sign his new contract in the presence of President Joan Laporta. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1