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scold·ing | \ ˈskōl-diŋ 
\
\Definition of scolding
1 : the action of one who scolds
2 : a harsh reproof
gave the child a sharp scolding for running into the road
Examples of scolding in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Once, while distracted by a scolding biddy, my daughter disappeared.
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Los Angeles Times, "Feedback: The coronavirus toll on art, theater and TV," 17 Apr. 2020 Despite a scolding from the governor chagrined by news photos that seemed to show unsafe clusters of beachgoers the weekend before, many of who had driven in from L.A., Newport Beach leaders voted 5-2 to keep the beach open.
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Los Angeles Times, "In beach closure, some in Orange County see overbearing hand of the ‘nanny state’," 2 May 2020 But what does the research have to say about the mild, low-level scolding and nagging that so many parents engage in?
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Jacob Towery, New York Times, "How to Deal With Your Kid’s Annoying Habits," 15 Apr. 2020 The comments were followed by a scolding from Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., who without naming Gaetz directly said Republicans shouldn’t raise accusations about substance abuse because some of them may have had problems themselves.
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Savannah Behrmann, USA TODAY, "Gaetz brought up Hunter Biden's substance abuse issues at impeachment but it backfired," 13 Dec. 2019 Each of these steps followed Nick Saban’s now famous scolding of students after a 2018 win over Louisiana-Lafayette.
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Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, "Alabama used an app to keep students at football games. How did it work?," 3 Mar. 2020 President Trump had billed the meeting with pharmaceutical executives as a scolding waiting to happen, STAT tells us.
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Ed Silverman, STAT, "Pharmalittle: Trump’s contempt for pharma melts away; India restricts exports of 26 ingredients due to coronavirus," 3 Mar. 2020 If your pet howls just to get your attention, don’t give it — no eye contact, no touch, no speaking and no scolding.
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Washington Post, "Hints From Heloise: What’s all that howling about?," 3 Aug. 2019 Even with Roberts' scolding still fresh, many senators were in no mood for rules or traditions.
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Laurie Kellman, Fortune, "Bored and weary senators openly flout basic guidelines during impeachment trial," 23 Jan. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scolding.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for scolding
The first known use of scolding was in 1547
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