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• bashing
  bashing

  noun

  the act of beating, whipping, or thrashing.
• -bashing
  -bashing

  combining form

bashing

American  

[bash-ing] / ˈbæʃ ɪŋ /

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.

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-bashing British  

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

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Other Word Forms

• -basher
  combining form

Etymology

Origin of bashing

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

Example Sentences

Paramount declined to comment on the remarks by Hegseth, a former Fox News host who has a lot of experience in bashing the mainstream media.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

"We have heard a lot of European bashing in the last few days," Lagarde said at the closing session of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in the Swiss Alps.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

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.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025

In desperate instances like this, when I’m truly flying blind, I have no alternative but to turn to the same A.I. tools that I just spent the first half of this essay bashing.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2025

She hated thinking about the scary toothless lunatic’s house, but once it was in her mind, it raced around in there, bashing up against every little bulging gray cell.

From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech