Brickbat

A **brickbat** is a piece of broken brick, often used figuratively to represent a harsh, critical, or insulting remark or act. It suggests a blunt, unwelcome attack, carrying the connotation of something thrown or hurled with force. The term can apply to written words, spoken comments, or actions, all designed to cause offense or damage. It frequently signifies an unwarranted criticism, a verbal or physical assault, or a deliberate attempt to belittle or denigrate someone or something. The term emphasizes the suddenness, abruptness, and potential destructiveness of the negative input. It can be employed in various contexts: politics, personal relationships, social commentary, and art criticism, demonstrating both the delivery and reception of the unpleasantness.

Brickbat meaning with examples

• The political debate quickly devolved into a series of brickbats, with each candidate hurling personal insults and unsubstantiated accusations at the other. The audience was left to consider the source and validity of each accusation rather than a discussion of any actual policy.
• After the premier of the new play, the reviewers unleashed a torrent of brickbats, savaging the performances, the direction, and the script itself. The playwright, in turn, released a statement that expressed extreme disdain for those writers.
• Their relationship was a constant exchange of brickbats, fueled by resentment and long-held grievances. Their arguments ended in a cacophony of insults and recriminations, causing damage to any chance of harmony.
• Rather than engaging in constructive criticism, the internet trolls hurled brickbats at her social media posts, making cruel comments about her appearance and her opinions. She eventually deleted all of her accounts.
• The newspaper's editorial column consistently offered brickbats to the government, criticizing its policies and actions with sarcastic and often mocking tone. Some readers stopped buying the paper due to that constant negativity.