calling down

verb

present participle of call down
as in scolding
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings I was called down by my supervisor for not catching the accounting error sooner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of calling down This year, the irrigators began calling down water on July 1, boosting flows in the Colorado River. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling down
  1. scolding
  2. lecturing
  3. dressing down
  4. reprimanding
  5. blaming
  6. criticizing
Verb
  • There has always been friction between Reed and Helen, but in the main, Reed has been successful in using a shifting combination of wheedling, scolding, complimenting, and threatening to ensure Helen fullfils her mission objectives.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Liev Schreiber is apologizing for scolding a reporter at the Nocturne premiere.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of scolding
Verb
  • Respondents in England and Australia were more likely to associate teaching with institutional, credentialed and paid professional roles, such as nursing, lecturing and social work.
    — Gustavo E. Fischman, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For decades, Zinn traveled the country lecturing to packed auditoriums.
    — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lecturing
Verb
  • Plus, the medium wash with light fading is great for dressing up or dressing down.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 20 Oct. 2026
  • And there’s a useful distinction between dressing down to make someone else comfortable and being thoughtful about the signals your clothes send.
    — Morgan Sullivan, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of dressing down
Verb
  • Instead of reprimanding his pet, Linnetz seems to recognize the moment as a potentially good shot.
    — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The audience awkwardly chuckles, and Scovel, eyes still closed, begins reprimanding them.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of reprimanding
Verb
  • Trump has tried blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for this year's diesel spikes.
    — DAVID McHUGH, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Trump has tried blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for this year’s diesel spikes.
    — David McHugh, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of blaming
Verb
  • The Action Button has proved somewhat controversial since its release, with users on social media like Reddit criticizing its placement and sensitivity.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Raman pledged during her campaign to replace McDonnell, criticizing his handling of protests against federal immigration enforcement and arguing that his leadership had damaged trust in the department, particularly among immigrant communities.
    — Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of criticizing

Browse Nearby Words

calling
calling down
calling (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Calling down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling%20down. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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