Lambaste: meaning and SAT practice

Lambaste (verb) means: To criticize someone harshly and publicly for their actions.

Lambaste in a sentence

The coach will lambaste the team if they lose another game this season.

Similar: criticize, scold, rebuke, chastise. Opposite: praise, commend.

SAT-style practice: what does “lambaste” most nearly mean?

The coach will lambaste the team if they lose another game this season.

As used in the sentence, “lambaste” most nearly means

  1. criticize
  2. exonerate
  3. remedy
  4. eject
Show the answer

Answer: A. “lambaste” means: To criticize someone harshly and publicly for their actions. “criticize” is the closest match in this sentence. The other choices are real SAT-level words, but none of them carries that meaning here.

On the digital SAT this is the “Words in Context” skill, about 7 of the 54 Reading and Writing questions. The test asks what a word means as used in the passage, so a word’s most common meaning is not always the answer. More of these, with full explanations, are on SAT Words in Context practice questions.

  • admonish: To warn or scold someone firmly but not harshly.
  • animadversion: A critical remark or expression of disapproval about someone or something.
  • censure: To express severe disapproval or criticism of someone.
  • chide: Scold or reprimand someone for doing something wrong.
  • disparage: To speak negatively about someone or something.
  • excoriate: To severely criticize or harshly condemn someone or something.

← laconic · All 701 SAT words · malevolent →

Want to know which SAT skills you are actually missing? Take the free diagnostic. No account needed to start.