bashing

[bash-ing]

noun

1. the act of beating, whipping, or thrashing.

   a series of unsolved bashings and robberies.

2. a decisive defeat.

   We gave the visiting team a good bashing.

3. (used in combination)

   1. unprovoked physical assaults against members of a specified group.

      gay-bashing.

   2. verbal abuse, as of a group or a nation.

      feminist-bashing; China-bashing.

-bashing

combining form

1. informal

   1. indicating a malicious attack on members of a particular group

      queer-bashing

      union-bashing

   2. indicating any of various other activities

      Bible-bashing

      spud-bashing

      square-bashing

Other Word Forms

• -basher combining form

Word History and Origins

Origin of bashing¹

First recorded in 1725–35; bash + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

He wanted to help trapped flies—perhaps he felt the pain of his wings bashing against the inside of the bottle more than most people.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead, Mr. Carlson excoriated American supporters of Israel, particularly bashing “Christian Zionists” for their “heresy.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Joyfully engaged in bashing the stocks of the companies he covered. Whatever he’s thinking, it comes out of his mouth.”

Read more on Literature

For more than two centuries, the United States has treated Latin America as its personal piñata, bashing it silly for goods and not caring about the ugly aftermath.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Collier’s investment in Unrivaled has been portrayed at times as a conflict of interest—and yes, bashing one league while you’re building another presents some interesting optics, to say the least.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal