# bashing

/ˈbæʃɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈæʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bashing
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. severe criticism

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

strong and often unfair public criticism of a person, group, or idea.

For teachers: the act of subjecting a person, group, or institution to harsh, persistent, and often public verbal criticism.

- The newspaper was accused of celebrity bashing after its latest article.
- The candidate complained about the constant media bashing, arguing that the press was ignoring his actual policy proposals.

Usage: Often used in compound nouns like 'media bashing' or 'politician bashing'.

Teaching tip: This is the most common modern sense in news and social media; it implies the criticism is excessive or biased.

### 2. a physical hit

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the act of hitting something or someone very hard.

For teachers: a forceful physical blow or a series of heavy strikes.

- The old car took a real bashing during the long journey over the mountains.
- The coastal defences took a severe bashing during the winter storms, necessitating expensive repairs to the concrete sea wall.

## Examples

- The media bashing of the politician was intense.
- The company faced heavy bashing from customers after the data leak.
- The relentless bashing of traditional institutions by modern critics has reshaped the political landscape.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.