lashing out
Sudden verbal assault
Lashing out is reacting with sudden verbal or physical aggression, often disproportionate to the provocation.
The image is of a whip or limb striking outward reflexively.
Someone who feels cornered, hurt, or frustrated may lash out at whoever is nearest: He lashed out at his wife after a bad day at work.
The phrase implies impulsive rather than calculated hostility.
- snappingBreaking with sharp sound
- flying off the handleLosing composure suddenly
- attackAggressive act against another
- shoutingVocally projecting loudly
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
losing control · fury · rage · blind rage · retaliation · hitting · throwing punches · eruption · striking · anger · explosion · wrath · venting · tantrum · choler · berating · snarling · blowing up
- angeranger, rage, fury, wrath, ire
- emotional outburstsmeltdown, tantrum, temper tantrum, hissy fit, blowup
- extreme reactionsfreakout, meltdown, hysteria, panic, outrage
- tiradestirades, tirade, rants, rant, harangues
- emotional responsesfacial expression, tone of voice, temper tantrum, mood swing, silent treatment
- harmful copingself-harm, self-injury, self-sabotage, self-destruction, self-medication
lashing outholding back
Preventing forward movement
keeping one's cool · measured response · self-control · biting one's tongue · bottling up
lashing outreaching out
Initiating communication
embracing · comforting · soothing · supporting · nurturing
lashing outmeasured response
Controlled, proportional reply
taking it in stride · letting it go · rising above · de-escalating · patience
outside, out, lash, outing, outcome, output, outburst, outsider, eyelash