tut-tutted; tut-tutting
: to express disapproval or disbelief by or as if by uttering tut
editorialists tut-tutted over the recent congressional scandal
Examples of tut-tut in a Sentence
Verb
ever since the invention of talkies, someone or other has been tut-tutting about the bad language heard in movies
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
That produced a tut-tut from U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., who was presiding over the House at the time.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2025
There’s no need for Smith’s longtime fans—even for those who have loved her since the 1960s—to tut-tut about the fact that her later roles brought her the greatest fame.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 27 Sep. 2024
The rest of the parents, who are mostly millennials, tut-tut their disapproval, and talk about how badly they’ve been triggered.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Oct. 2023
Yet strategic convergence there does not mean everywhere: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its year-long war has elicited a tepid tut-tut from New Delhi, while India has escalated its purchases of cheap Russian oil at a time Washington seeks to isolate Moscow.
—Alyssa Ayres, Time, 21 June 2023
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
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Interjection
On Tuesday, Lipa took to her Instagram to directly shut down the Mail’s reporting and tut-tut the article’s style and voice while dismissing it as mere clickbait that exploits a tragedy.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
That produced a tut-tut from U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., who was presiding over the House at the time.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2025
There’s no need for Smith’s longtime fans—even for those who have loved her since the 1960s—to tut-tut about the fact that her later roles brought her the greatest fame.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 27 Sep. 2024
The rest of the parents, who are mostly millennials, tut-tut their disapproval, and talk about how badly they’ve been triggered.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Oct. 2023
Yet strategic convergence there does not mean everywhere: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its year-long war has elicited a tepid tut-tut from New Delhi, while India has escalated its purchases of cheap Russian oil at a time Washington seeks to isolate Moscow.
—Alyssa Ayres, Time, 21 June 2023
Verb
On Tuesday, Lipa took to her Instagram to directly shut down the Mail’s reporting and tut-tut the article’s style and voice while dismissing it as mere clickbait that exploits a tragedy.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tut-tut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tut-tut. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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