Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Word of the Day

Blog: Words at Play

Dictionary

shellacking

noun

: a very bad defeat

Full Definition of SHELLACKING

: a decisive defeat : drubbing

See shellacking defined for English-language learners

See shellacking defined for kids

ADVERTISEMENT

First Known Use of SHELLACKING

1931

Related to SHELLACKING

Synonyms: beating, drubbing, licking, loss, lump, overthrow, plastering, rout, defeat, trimming, trouncing, whipping

Antonyms: success, triumph, victory, win

Learn More About SHELLACKING

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "shellacking"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "shellacking"

Nglish: Translation of "shellacking" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "shellacking" for Arabic speakers

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: shellac waxPrevious Word in the Dictionary: shellac All Words Near: shellacking

ADVERTISEMENT

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up shellacking? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Join Us

Merriam-Webster
on Facebook

Merriam-Webster
on Twitter

Bookstore: Digital and Print

Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.

See All

Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries

© Merriam-Webster, Incorporated