1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
a tyrannical father who used the dinner hour to baste his children for their many perceived shortcomings
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
basted the thief with a stick while he cried out for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baste
Properly rendered, brisket developed a silky layer of fat that basted the meat from within and absorbed the gentle smoke of post oak.
—
J.c. Reid, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
Chicken wings basted in a tangy guava beer sauce.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Cook, basting with sauce, just until warmed and cooked through, 3–4 minutes.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Brush with the yakitori sauce and continue grilling, turning and basting with the sauce every 30 seconds, until the chicken is glazed and cooked through, about 2 minutes more.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for baste
J.c. Reid, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
Chicken wings basted in a tangy guava beer sauce.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Cook, basting with sauce, just until warmed and cooked through, 3–4 minutes.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Brush with the yakitori sauce and continue grilling, turning and basting with the sauce every 30 seconds, until the chicken is glazed and cooked through, about 2 minutes more.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for baste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baste
Verb
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The feeling was less substantial, more childish, like expecting someone to walk in and scold you for doing something wrong and not knowing where to hide.—
Francesco Pacifico,
The Dial,
12 May 2026
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Stumbling on to this ruse, Antoine’s friend and manager Armand (Gilles Lellouche) immediately can tell Suzanne is a fake and scolds her for exploiting his friend’s grief.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The parallels between Ines’ dilemma and that of a nation being asked to lick its wounds in silence — in the name of moving on from past miseries — are present but elusive.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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At one point A’zion licks the digitally de-aged Mick Jagger’s face.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The cruel cartoon of a constantly shrewish, venal, and disloyal Mary began cementing itself in the public mind when William Herndon, Lincoln’s Springfield law partner, started lecturing about his reminiscences within months of the President’s murder.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Also, don’t lecture your teens and don’t expect constant gratitude.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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That day, Riley had been editing a sequence in which Corvette sneaks into a San Francisco condo owned by Christie, her fashion idol, by hiding inside a coffee delivery cart.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Bugs also tend to hide inside packaging, seams, or even the food itself.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Renter Mandy Feng, who prefers to use a pseudonym for fear of being seen criticizing the authorities, said the stimulus the government is offering has failed to offset people’s anxiety over an uncertain economic outlook.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
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At the time of the women’s march, Cannes organizers were being criticized for failing to do more to publicly acknowledge the #MeToo and Time’s Up initiatives.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Verb
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When the war began, a cornered Iran lashed out by attacking its neighbors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a 45-year-old coalition of energy-rich Arab monarchies including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
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Harris also shows us the burn scars that ripple up Racine’s arm and across Anaia’s face, textured skin that makes strangers blanch, to which Racine lashes out defensively.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
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On Thursday Nixon was reprimanded by the House Rules and Ethics Committee for her loud protest on the House floor last month that disrupted the vote on new congressional district maps.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2026
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If something’s not done as far as reprimanding, what will that do to him as a student?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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There’s also a menu of small snacks, with mezzes like hummus, tzatziki, whipped feta, falafel, halloumi, artichoke and eggplant.—
Connie Ogle
May 15,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
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The one-time Ducks first-round draft pick whipped a shot through traffic from just above the slot.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baste. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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