lam ‧ bast BrE AmE , lambaste /ˈlæmbæst/ verb [transitive] formal
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: Probably from lam 'to hit' ( ⇨ ↑ lam ) + baste ]
to criticize someone or something very strongly, usually in public SYN slate :
Democrats lambasted the President’s budget plan for being ‘inadequate’.