Bash — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbash/

Meaning & Definition of Bash

Bash (verb)

  1. to strike violently, hit; also, to injure or damage by striking, smash —often used with in
  2. to attack physically or verbally
  3. crash

Bash (noun)

  1. a forceful blow
  2. a festive social gathering, party
  3. try, attempt

Bash (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

    "he hasn't been the same ever since he received that bash on his head"

    similar: bang, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop
    related: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

  2. an effort to do or accomplish something

    "while golf isn't my game, I had to give it a bash while at Saint Andrews in Scotland"

    similar: assay (archaic), attempt, bid, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl
    related: striving, struggle, throes, undertaking, trial and error

  3. a social gathering

    "I'm throwing a New Year's bash this year"

    similar: affair, binge, blast, blowout, do, event, fete, function, get-together, party, reception, shindig
    related: benefit, fund-raiser, ball, dance, formal, prom, celebration, gala, occasion, bacchanal, bacchanalia, orgy, saturnalia, bake, clambake, cocktail party, hen party, house party, housewarming, icebreaker, kaffeeklatsch, kegger, klatch, masquerade, meet and greet, mixer, salon, shower, social, soiree, stag, supper, symposium, tea, tea party

Bash (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come into usually forceful contact with something

    "the car bashed into the tree with glass-shattering force"

    similar: bang, bump, collide, crash, hit, impact, impinge, knock, ram, slam, smash, strike, swipe, thud
    related: bounce, carom, clunk, glance, rebound, ricochet, skim, skip, contact, land, touch, brush, graze, kiss, nudge, scrape, shave, sweep, bulldoze, jostle, muscle, press, push
    near: miss, skirt

  2. to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

    "you have to bash that door hard in order to get it open"

    similar: bang, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, crack, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap, hang one on
    related: batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough, scuff, bunt, flick, stroke, tap, bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp, bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump (slang), fell, floor, knock down, level, rabbit-punch, sucker punch, cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip, bean, brain, conk, skull

  3. to strike repeatedly

    "the angry child kept bashing her toy with a hammer until it broke"

    similar: baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop, whup, work over, beat up on
    related: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate

  4. to criticize harshly and usually publicly

    "in all of talk radio no other host seems to enjoy bashing liberals as much as he does"

    similar: abuse, assail, attack, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste, potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate, beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into
    related: berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip, blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane, affront, insult, slur, asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down, libel, slander, traduce, vilify, chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, fulminate, lash (out)
    near: acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bash

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bash:

British: douse, fib
Dialect: larrup
Archaic: assay
bang, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger

Related Words for Bash

counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling

Near Antonyms of Bash

miss, skirt, acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

Word Forms of Bash

Inflections: bashed, bashing, bashes

Derived words: basher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bash

origin unknown

First known use: 1744t

Words & Phrases Containing Bash

bash away, bash on, bash out, bash up, have a bash, beat/bash someone's brains out/in

Frequently Asked Questions about Bash

What does "Bash" mean?

"Bash" means to strike violently, hit; also, to injure or damage by striking, smash —often used with in. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to strike violently, hit; also, to injure or damage by striking, smash —often used with in. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bash"?

Other words for "Bash" include bang, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop and box. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bash" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bash"?

There are 341 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bash". Common alternatives include bang, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet and bust.

How do you use "Bash" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bash" in a sentence: "he hasn't been the same ever since he received that bash on his head"; "while golf isn't my game, I had to give it a bash while at Saint Andrews in Scotland"; "I'm throwing a New Year's bash this year".

Is "Bash" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bash" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Bash"?

"Bash" is pronounced /ˈbash/.

What is the origin of the word "Bash"?

"Bash" comes from origin unknown. First known use: 1744t.

What is another word for "Bash" meaning "a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument"?

When "Bash" (noun) means a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument, synonyms include bang, bat, beat, belt, biff and blow.