bearbaiting

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A blood sport in which dogs are set upon a chained bear

   “But bearbaiting, then a favourite diversion of high and low, was the abomination which most strongly stirred the wrath of the austere sectaries.”

   “By this the whole matter had presented itself to them as an entertainment more diverting than bullfight or bearbaiting.”

2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable)A bloodthirsty free for all.

   “All of these pivoted on the larger Problems: Not only how the press should discuss sexual morality of public officials but whether this ever should be a measure of fitness for public office; not only how the local press will allow its judgment to be pre-empted or conditioned by the Washington press, but also how news judgments, always contagious, can degenerate into bear baiting.”

   “But that's not the worst part of the phenomenon that the press conference bearbaiting illustrates.”

   “...recalls a typical scene of bear-baiting, the news-hounds tearing away at her flesh with those sex-hungry looks and sexually inquisitive questions.”

   “Granted, it wasn't that much of a reach to line up panels of Wal-Mart gross-outs for that bearbaiting audience of hers to hoot and gibber at; and it's also true that her guests, more than those on other shows, do routinely show up for the taping in outfits so grotesque they can turn unwary spectators to stone.”

   “He would pause outside the courtroom just long enough to give the TV press five minutes of crazed rhetoric for the Evening News, then he would shepherd his equally crazed 'clients' into the courtroom for their daily war-circus with the Judge. When you get into bear baiting on that level, paranoia is just another word for ignorance. ... They really are out to get you.”

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of bearbait