whaling
UK: ˈweɪlɪŋ | US: ˈweɪlɪŋ
n. the act or industry of hunting and killing whales for their oil, meat, or other products
n. (informal) the act of attacking or criticizing someone persistently and harshly
The word "whaling" combines "whale," derived from Old English hwæl (referring to the marine mammal), with the suffix "-ing," which denotes action or practice. Historically, whaling was a major industry for extracting whale oil and baleen. The informal sense of "harsh criticism" metaphorically extends the idea of relentless pursuit, akin to hunting whales.
Commercial whaling was once a thriving industry in the 19th century.
Environmentalists protest against whaling due to its impact on endangered species.
The article was a brutal whaling of the politician’s controversial decisions.
Norway and Japan are among the few countries still engaged in whaling.
His speech turned into a whaling session against corporate greed.