bash

1 of 3

verb

ˈbash How to pronounce bash (audio)
bashed; bashing; bashes
Synonyms of bash

transitive verb

1
: to strike violently : hit
also : to injure or damage by striking : smash
—often used with in
2
: to attack physically or verbally
media bashing
celebrity bashing

intransitive verb

: crash
basher noun
see also:
bash away bash on bash out bash up

bash

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a forceful blow
2
: a festive social gathering : party
3
chiefly British : try, attempt
have a bash at it

basher

3 of 3

noun (2)

bash·​er
ˈba-shər
plural -s
: one that bashes
especially, chiefly Australia : a criminal who beats and robs people

Synonyms of bash

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Verb

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of bash in a Sentence

Verb I bashed my arm against the door. Someone bashed him over the head with a chair. They tried to bash the door open. Noun (1) We threw her a birthday bash. She gave me a bash on the head.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
One day after the decision was made, signs bashing Watson were taped onto the statue of Browns great Jim Brown at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 That’s the first time that has happened since her husband Glenn (Steven Yeun) had his brains bashed in by Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
Seasonal menu items listed on its website include an upside down peach cobbler latte, matcha-mallow latte with strawberry cold foam, birthday bash frappe and a sriracha club sandwich. — Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 Both young men were out with friends at the holiday bash and, prosecutors said, did not know the teen who took their lives. — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bash

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (1)

noun derivative of bash entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1744, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bash was in 1744

Phrases Containing bash

Rhymes for bash

See All Rhymes for bash

Browse Nearby Words

base unit
bash
basha
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bash. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bash

verb
ˈbash
1
: to strike violently : beat
2
: to smash by a blow
3
: crash entry 1 sense 1a
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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