bashing

[ bash-ing ]

/ ˈbæʃ ɪŋ /

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See synonyms for bashing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of beating, whipping, or thrashing: a series of unsolved bashings and robberies.

a decisive defeat: We gave the visiting team a good bashing.

(used in combination)

unprovoked physical assaults against members of a specified group: gay-bashing.
verbal abuse, as of a group or a nation: feminist-bashing; China-bashing.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bashing

First recorded in 1725–35; bash + -ing¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bashing in a sentence

Bashing commercialism at a commercial gathering would be ridiculous.
Sneer and Clothing in Miami: Inside The $3 Billion Woodstock of Contemporary Art|Jay Michaelson|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not that the panel was one giant bashing of the male-dominated comedy world.
These Women Are Labias-to-the-Wall Funny|Emily Shire|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jazz lovers who had taken exception to the previous bashing were told to lighten up, and stop complaining.
What’s With This Uncool Surge in Jazz Bashing?|Ted Gioia|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dame Diana Rigg, who plays Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, has turned tales of critical bashing into a delightful play.
Diana Rigg: GOT's Queen of Thorns Speaks|Nico Hines|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Republicans and Democrats love bashing lobbyists on the stump.
Lobbyist Derangement Syndrome Sweeps DC|James Poulos|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But his resistance should be secret and not open, for a while; there should be no more "bashing" than was absolutely necessary.
The Secret Glory|Arthur Machen
A few seconds later, I tripped over a steel staircase, bashing my shins.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Nick continued to ponder the strange men and the woman he was coming home to, but it was like bashing his head against a wall.
The Sex Life of the Gods|Michael Knerr
I was given post at the gates, where for ten minutes my fellows was kept pretty busy bashing 'em and throwing 'em out.
Foe-Farrell|Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
What a terrible thing, if Bert had found out you was in there and put him up to bashing your face.
Sinister Street, vol. 2|Compton Mackenzie

British Dictionary definitions for bashing

-bashing

adj combining form, n combining form

informal

indicating a malicious attack on members of a particular groupqueer-bashing; union-bashing
indicating any of various other activitiesBible-bashing; spud-bashing; square-bashing

Derived forms of -bashing

-basher, n combining form

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012