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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as in scolding
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Recent Examples of dressing-down
Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 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
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
Verb
Nothing, perhaps, has grated more than last month’s Oval Office dressing-down of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
—Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dressing-down
Noun
-
The scolding came after Combs seemingly nodded at jurors during Bongolan’s testimony about the balcony incident.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
7 June 2025
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Neither his pressure on the Ukrainian leader, who Trump lambasted in the Oval Office, nor his recent scolding of the Kremlin ruler appear to have pushed the two sides any closer to a peace deal.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Nat Geo experts provide photo advice, and historians and marine biologists host onboard lectures.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
3 July 2025
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What: This two-day event features Irish music and dances, a children's festival, a genealogy expert, lectures on Irish history and authentic Irish dishes, such as Guinness stew, corned beef sandwiches, homemade scones, soda bread and more.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
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But what if this isn’t a fight to win, but a lesson in learning how to hold your center amidst chaos?—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
-
Sustainability Makes Supply Chains Stronger The pandemic may be in the past, but its lessons about supply chain fragility remain relevant.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
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
-
But rather than reacting with a punishment, bring it back to building your relationship, Jordan says.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
30 June 2025
-
There was, however, a fateful exception: slavery or involuntary servitude would remain permissible as punishment for crimes.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Their faces were impassive, but their eyes had lids and lashes that blinked.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
-
This is done via the hook-and-roll-style brush, which uses tiny hooks to catch each lash.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Ogles does so on the grounds that Mamdani, in a rap song of all places, praised the leadership of the Holy Land Foundation, men who were convicted in federal court of providing material support to Hamas.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
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At the same stage on Saturday, Irish rap trio Kneecap voiced their pro-Palestine views and used the platform to criticize the U.K. and U.S. governments, as well as the U.S. media.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
29 June 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 10 Jul. 2025.
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