1
as in scolding
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
you don't have to jaw me to death just because I bite my nails
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
just a group of girls sitting around the locker room and jawing about the usual stuff
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in yammering
Related Words
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 jawing
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Despite some discouraging downward trends, all the prefatory jawing could go a long way toward siphoning off a fair number of viewers who might otherwise be locked in on the NFL.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025
All of the jawing between the two teams resulted in Jimmy and Jey challenging Reed and Breakker to a tag team match for Wrestlepalooza.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Broncos Keidron Smith and Levelle Bailey were in the mix, and Nik Bonitto joined the jawing despite not being in pads.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 14 Aug. 2025
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Horn has never been shy about jawing at his offensive teammates in practice.
—Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
The two seemingly began jawing at each other as players huddled up.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile, there was an undercurrent of malevolence coming from the Sabres’ Mason Geertsen (6-foot-5, 231 pounds), who got into a couple of jawing matches with 6-foot-7, 255-pound Nikita Zadorov, but nothing came of it.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Despite some discouraging downward trends, all the prefatory jawing could go a long way toward siphoning off a fair number of viewers who might otherwise be locked in on the NFL.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025
All of the jawing between the two teams resulted in Jimmy and Jey challenging Reed and Breakker to a tag team match for Wrestlepalooza.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Broncos Keidron Smith and Levelle Bailey were in the mix, and Nik Bonitto joined the jawing despite not being in pads.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
And Travis Kelce and Reid were jawing at each other again.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Horn has never been shy about jawing at his offensive teammates in practice.
—Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
The two seemingly began jawing at each other as players huddled up.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jawing
Verb
-
Like an impatient parent scolding their toddler, Frankenstein grows frustrated with his monster’s limited capacity for speech.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Rodgers stayed down for a moment before getting to his feet and giving a quick two-handed push to Jones’ chest while scolding him.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While chatting about Leila’s wedding plans on Live with Kelly and Mark, the Sisters Loved and Treasured author, 65, revealed that her daughter, 26, plans to wed her fiancé Sylvain Gricourt in two separate ceremonies.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Video shared on social media showed Bell smiling, chatting with fans and taking photos.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But ultimately, it's created a lot of yammering and once everyone went to video and once old school mainstream show business started to collapse in on itself, people were really able through bubbles and tribalization, able to build their own show business empires.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Since exiting Dries Van Noten a few years ago, Scallon has been working as an independent consultant and mentor in fashion communications strategy, also lecturing occasionally and sharing his views about creative content on podcasts.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The same woman Don had been lecturing about beer.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During those visits, Ray and Alex took an interest in dance — getting up onstage with the park’s performers and talking with them after the shows.—
Shannon Pettypiece,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Toddlers and babies especially might especially appreciate a break from their constricting seat, and a change in scenery, by talking a walk up and down the aisles with mom or dad.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When conversation veers into controversial territory, Gott suggests redirecting rather than reprimanding.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
-
To this end, Cucinelli urged the independent players to tap into the online commerce without betraying their identity of exclusivity and desirability, subtly reprimanding those who embraced the gray market outright.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sitting with Williams now in meetings, conversing with him over text and stopping him for advice sometimes in the hallways, players are learning from his humanity.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The brain’s circuits are all built from a mixture of inhibitory and excitatory cells conversing in diverse ways.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There has been chatter that the Tigers would force Kelly to make staffing changes if the team continued to struggle, especially on offense.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Does the subconscious chatter feel louder than usual?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jawing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jawing. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share