lambaste
/læmˈbeɪst/ verb
Forms lambastes lambasting lambasted lambast lamblast
- verb To scold, reprimand or criticize harshly. “The sergeant lambasted the new recruits daily.”
- verb (dated in UK English but not US English) To give a thrashing to; to beat severely.
Synonyms
berate scold tell off admonish animadvert bash bawl out tilt cannonade slash lash blame scorch blast berisp castigate censure charge chastise chew out cane flog lambast call on the carpet take to task rebuke rag trounce reproof lecture
Etymology
First attested in 1637. Probably lam (“beat”) + baste (“beat”)
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [Lam + baste to beat.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “lambaste”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details