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
Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 12 June 2025
The controversial Barstool Sports founder was lambasted online over his height, with one X user over the weekend posting pictures of him standing on his tiptoes in selfies with taller people.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 June 2025
When that number was reported, director James Gunn — who also runs DC Studios — lambasted the article.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 5 June 2025
But one longtime Wells Fargo critic lambasted the Fed’s action.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 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 17 Jun. 2025.
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lambaste
verb
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