1
as in scolds
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
the frustrated manager lectured the waitstaff about its poor level of service
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in speaks
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject
a physician who has lectured before countless audiences on the importance of diet and exercise in avoiding heart disease
Synonyms & Similar 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 lectures
Simon Maghakyan, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
In her car, Jessica Gabriel’s Lady is an avid listener of DJ Revolution, a fictional radio DJ who lectures passionately about the struggles of modern-day life in Nigeria.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
Hands-on activities ground new knowledge in ways that lectures and reading often cannot.
—Emma Marcucci, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2026
The same government that lectures Beijing about state capitalism and nonmarket behaviors now practices it at home.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025
But Andres Bernal, a political analyst who lectures at the City University of New York, thinks many young voters look at Cuomo's history of controversy and are reminded of the Democratic Party establishment that has left them disillusioned.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025
Kenji lectures on the difference between Japanese static views of ruins versus Western dynamic interpretations and carries the memory of past earthquakes.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Yeanoplos lectures throughout the United States on the topics of valuation, applied finance and financial analysis, has been a faculty member for the AICPA’s National Business Valuation School for close to 25 years and is currently on the faculty of the ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute.
—Bysteel Rose, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Simon Maghakyan lectures on the 20th anniversary of the destruction of Djulfa in December 2025.
—Simon Maghakyan, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
In her car, Jessica Gabriel’s Lady is an avid listener of DJ Revolution, a fictional radio DJ who lectures passionately about the struggles of modern-day life in Nigeria.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
Hands-on activities ground new knowledge in ways that lectures and reading often cannot.
—Emma Marcucci, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2026
The same government that lectures Beijing about state capitalism and nonmarket behaviors now practices it at home.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025
But Andres Bernal, a political analyst who lectures at the City University of New York, thinks many young voters look at Cuomo's history of controversy and are reminded of the Democratic Party establishment that has left them disillusioned.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025
Kenji lectures on the difference between Japanese static views of ruins versus Western dynamic interpretations and carries the memory of past earthquakes.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Yeanoplos lectures throughout the United States on the topics of valuation, applied finance and financial analysis, has been a faculty member for the AICPA’s National Business Valuation School for close to 25 years and is currently on the faculty of the ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute.
—Bysteel Rose, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lectures
Verb
-
While some online scolds didn’t like Johnson’s profanity, this has played well in Chicago, a city that has been ravenous for a winning Bears team since the 20th Super Bowl.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Or on Bluesky with the joke scolds, or on Mastodon with the Linux hackers, or on Threads with the voice-forward brands?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Censori has the punctiliousness of a Capricorn—her birthday is January 5—but her moon speaks to her artistic, sensitive side.—
Anna Peele,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Roman said that speaks to his heart and mission.—
Suzanne Le Mignot,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The pulpit where sermons were preached looked like an abstract disaster.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
King’s ability to take ideas from White preachers’ bland sermons and convert them to stirring oratory was part of his genius, Miller says.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His supervisor appears as a ticket conductor and reprimands him for doing nothing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And no one talks much about that.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Kennedy, who is in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and heroin, talks frequently about his own struggles with substance use.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Venus’s lessons for exoplanets.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Feb. 2026
-
While there are good energies available to assist you, there are also challenging energies that could function as tests or lessons.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The report criticizes the county bringing electrical infrastructure to PortMiami that allows cruise ships to shut down their smog-producing generators while docked, a $125 million project that received $20 million from the state’s Department of Transportation.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Continue reading … NEWSROOM REVOLT – Tensions rise at '60 Minutes' as Scott Pelley reportedly criticizes Bari Weiss.—
,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The department has used its posts on X and other social media sites for years to share everything from policy announcements and speeches by the secretary of state and ambassadors, to fact sheets for travelers and images from around the world.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
7 Feb. 2026
-
There are speeches, and wreaths are laid.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lectures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lectures. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
