Definition

A piece of hard material, often a brick, that can be thrown or used as a weapon, or a negative comment or criticism about someone or something.

Example

The politician faced a barrage of brickbats from the media after his controversial statement.

Conversation

Did you hear that brickbat he threw at the speaker during the debate?

Yeah, it was pretty harsh and totally uncalled for.

I think everyone felt the shock of that brickbat comment.

For sure, it definitely changed the atmosphere in the room.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Brickbat is formed from "brick" (from Old English "bricc", meaning a building material made of clay) and "bat" (from Middle English "batte", meaning a stick or club). The word "brickbat" refers to a piece of brick that is used as a weapon or thrown as a missile, combining the idea of a brick as a material and a bat as an object used to strike.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'brick' as a building material and a 'bat' as something you use to hit — a brickbat is literally a brick used to strike.

Visually Confused Words