The origin is uncertain. Dictionary evidence records the word by the mid-sixteenth century in senses connected with beating or punishing, and the now common sense of defeating decisively developed from that forceful idea.
The origin is uncertain. Dictionary evidence records the word by the mid-sixteenth century in senses connected with beating or punishing, and the now common sense of defeating decisively developed from that forceful idea.
What does trounce mean?
It means to defeat someone very heavily or decisively. It can also mean to beat, punish, or criticize severely.
Is trounce formal?
No. It is vivid and somewhat informal, though it appears in news writing about sports, elections, and markets.
What is the past tense of trounce?
The past tense is trounced.
Can a team be trounced?
Yes. If a team is trounced, it loses badly or by a large margin.
What are synonyms of trounce?
Synonyms include defeat, beat, thrash, rout, crush, drub, and overwhelm.
Can trounce mean criticize?
Yes, in a figurative sense. A review, article, or speaker can trounce an idea by attacking it harshly.
What is the opposite of trounce?
For the defeat sense, opposites include lose to, fall to, and succumb to.