as in scolding
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lecturing
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
dressed down for boorish behavior at the dance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of dressing-down
Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
So, while O’Neil will be in constant dialogue with Mosquera about ensuring his actions do not cross a line and disadvantage his team, there are no plans for a dressing-down over Saturday nor moves to curb his fiery streak too much.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
Donald Trump’s dressing-down of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House was a lightning strike to the transatlantic alliance, dispelling lingering illusions in Europe about whether their American cousin will stand with them to counter Russian aggression.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
Victoria expects that Tim — her confident, successful, morally upright husband — will give this phony guru a good dressing-down.
—Noel Murray, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Kyiv have risen to a boiling point, culminating in a spectacular public dressing-down of Ukraine’s Zelenskyy last Friday by U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
So, while O’Neil will be in constant dialogue with Mosquera about ensuring his actions do not cross a line and disadvantage his team, there are no plans for a dressing-down over Saturday nor moves to curb his fiery streak too much.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
The Indian Foreign Ministry immediately summoned German and U.S. diplomats for a dressing-down in New Delhi.
—Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
So, while O’Neil will be in constant dialogue with Mosquera about ensuring his actions do not cross a line and disadvantage his team, there are no plans for a dressing-down over Saturday nor moves to curb his fiery streak too much.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
Donald Trump’s dressing-down of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House was a lightning strike to the transatlantic alliance, dispelling lingering illusions in Europe about whether their American cousin will stand with them to counter Russian aggression.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
Victoria expects that Tim — her confident, successful, morally upright husband — will give this phony guru a good dressing-down.
—Noel Murray, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Kyiv have risen to a boiling point, culminating in a spectacular public dressing-down of Ukraine’s Zelenskyy last Friday by U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
So, while O’Neil will be in constant dialogue with Mosquera about ensuring his actions do not cross a line and disadvantage his team, there are no plans for a dressing-down over Saturday nor moves to curb his fiery streak too much.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
The Indian Foreign Ministry immediately summoned German and U.S. diplomats for a dressing-down in New Delhi.
—Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressing-down
Noun
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Graphic photos aside, and with the Menendez brothers attending virtually, Friday’s court hearing already saw the DA at the end of a judicial scolding.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2025
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The meeting had been overshadowed by the extraordinary scolding.—
Brian Melley and Emma Burrows,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The schedule includes more than 300 enriching events, from lectures and concerts to recitals and family programs.—
Sarah Kuta,
Denver Post,
14 May 2025
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The student-teacher bond is remembered long after the lecture has faded from memory.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2025
Noun
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The lessons doctors are learning on KJ will hopefully be used to help many other children.—
Karen Weintraub,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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Cassie frequently praises Fine’s parenting on social media, sharing peeks into his girl-dad duties — which include everything from princess dress-up sessions and Spice Girls dance parties to skating lessons and tropical family vacations, per her Instagram.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Never underestimate the combined powers of a Liv Benson talking-to and a New York slice.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Roberts pulled the reliever in, gave him what seemed like a fatherly talking-to, and – after Ramirez got out of the inning with the very next pitch – noted that sometimes the best course is not to yell and scream at a player.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Orange County Register,
30 May 2024
Noun
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On the same day she was sworn into office, Pirro unveiled on Wednesday evening the punishment for two men who carried out a broad-daylight drive-by shooting near a D.C. elementary school.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2025
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Though itself a form of punishment, the breathalyzers were also pitched as a compromise to prevent people from losing their driving privileges entirely—something that can be devastating in a country where driving is often essential for work and daily life.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
15 May 2025
Noun
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But according to our readers (and most of TikTok, basically), so is the wand and the formula, even for sparse lashes.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
15 May 2025
-
Swipe on a Brown Mascara Curled lashes and a few coats of mascara should never be underestimated in a beauty look.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Billy Woods rose out of the Brooklyn rap underground as a virtuoso poet, one of hip-hop’s most independent and brilliant minds over the past two decades.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
10 May 2025
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Motion isolation was huge, as some soft beds, especially hybrids, can get a bad rap for being too bouncy.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
9 May 2025
Verb
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While most have become accustomed and perhaps even oblivious to McGregor’s online rants, openly criticizing a business partner is a little dicey.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
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Shiney-Ajay said Harris should have spent additional time criticizing lawmakers—like Manchin and Congressional Republicans—who limited the administration's climate goals, using it as a chance to emphasize her intent to seek greater climate victories in the future.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Dressing-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dressing-down. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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