v. Function: verb
1
Synonyms: BEAT 1, baste, drub, hammer, paste, pelt, pound, pummel, thrash, wallop
2
Synonyms: WHIP 2, beat, ||clobber, drub, lick, shellac, smear, smother, thrash, trim
3 to assail with withering oral or written denunciation FF1C; the senator has been publicly lambasted for taking bribes FF1E;
Synonyms: blister, castigate, ||crawl, drub, excoriate, flay, lash (into), roast, scarify, scathe, scorch, score, scourge, slam, slap, slash, ||slate; compare CRITICIZE , REPROVE , SCOLD 1
Related Words: censure, criticize, denounce, pan; berate, scold, tongue-lash; assail, attack, squabash
Idioms: burn one's ears, ||crawl all over, give (one) a roasting, pin one's ears back, rake (one) over the coals, read the riot act, rip into
Contrasted Words: applaud, extol, praise; approve, countenance, endorse