1
as in scolded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
a tyrannical father who used the dinner hour to baste his children for their many perceived shortcomings
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2
as in licked
to strike repeatedly
basted the thief with a stick while he cried out for help
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Recent Examples of basted
It’s brined, blanched, glazed, dry-aged, fried, grilled, then basted in the wok with oil; the entire process takes five days to prepare.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Properly rendered, brisket developed a silky layer of fat that basted the meat from within and absorbed the gentle smoke of post oak.
—J.c. Reid, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
Chicken wings basted in a tangy guava beer sauce.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Sturgeon from the Delaware River were likely fastened to a spit and basted with butter, then sprinkled with flour, nutmeg, mace, salt, sweet herbs, and breadcrumbs before being dressed in a tangy sauce that usually included anchovy, lobster, lemon, horseradish, and white wine.
—Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Properly rendered, brisket developed a silky layer of fat that basted the meat from within and absorbed the gentle smoke of post oak.
—J.c. Reid, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
Chicken wings basted in a tangy guava beer sauce.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Sturgeon from the Delaware River were likely fastened to a spit and basted with butter, then sprinkled with flour, nutmeg, mace, salt, sweet herbs, and breadcrumbs before being dressed in a tangy sauce that usually included anchovy, lobster, lemon, horseradish, and white wine.
—Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for basted
Verb
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Leon scolded Justice Department attorneys for arguing that the entire project needed to go forward for national security reasons, before previously distinguishing between the bunker below ground and the ballroom above ground.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
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Government officials scolded young people for the signs of disrespect.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When a boy had licked her neck at a party during the first week of college, a stranger!—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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There was one girl who licked doorknobs.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For years, states such as New York and California have been run by politicians who seem to believe prosperity is permanent — an endless resource to be taxed a little more, regulated a little harder and lectured a little longer.—
Larry Clifton,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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Ratmoko is also a photographer, writer, and scholar who has lectured on intercultural communication schools including Yale University and the University of Zurich.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The updraft knifed through the building, whose inhabitants were already suffering without heat or power for much of the winter as Russia pounded Ukraine’s energy system.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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The glass began to sway as fans pounded on it in excitement and then gave way, with pieces raining on Smith.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kudrow, who starred as the free-spirited Phoebe Buffay, said the writers reprimanded the cast for forgetting lines and spent their off-hours fantasizing about her female co-stars.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
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Jimmy John’s was once reprimanded for making sandwich makers sign them.—
Morris M. Kleiner,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries lashed back at Leavitt.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Leo has not lashed out, or gotten defensive, or allowed himself to be pulled down into the gutter.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Though the value can be criticized, Love is immediately going to make Arizona’s offense exponentially better.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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After the hearing, John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, the union that represents Chicago police officers, harshly criticized the SAFE-T Act and the county’s criminal courts judges who repeatedly released Talley from custody in his prior crimes of violence.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Emery had been incessant in wanting shorter, faster balls from his deeper players, with Villa’s best opportunity of the afternoon stemming from brave passing in combination in the first half, coaxing Fulham onto them before John McGinn whipped a ball into the space behind.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Many in the room whipped out their cameras to start filming, and made the rounds to glean and share details.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Basted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/basted. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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