KEELHAUL Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

keelhaul

verb

ˈkēl-ˌhȯl

Definition of keelhaul

as in to scold

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings there's no need to keelhaul him—it was an honest mistake, and a small one at that

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 keelhaul And other than a recession, which generally keelhauls buyback plans, don’t expect companies to ease off their repurchases. — Larry Light, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2019 To hell with a class action suit, these people should have been keelhauled under the Staten Island Ferry for a year. — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 25 Oct. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keelhaul

Verb

Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.

— JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of scold

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
Being a fly on the wall is precisely what Hard Knocks makes viewers feel like in the moment when Head Coach Mike Macdonald reprimands linebacker Derick Hall for getting too close to a quarterback.

— Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of reprimand

Verb

Especially for him in the same interview to be lecturing my party on democracy and norms.

— NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Coach Hudson defends Ricky to Gerry’s face, but privately lectures his daughter about the optics of their close relationship as a female football coach and tells her to put some space between her and Chad (and unknowingly, Russ).

— Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of lecture

Verb

However, everyone knows that if this season fails, nobody will blame Burrow.

— Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The explosion was ultimately blamed on an O-ring that failed in one the shuttle’s solid rocket boosters, allowing a flame to pierce the external fuel tank.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026