1
as in scolding
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 speaking
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 lecturing
The irony here is that after spending decades lecturing China about the merits of free trade, the US is taking a page out of Beijing’s own state capitalist playbook.
—
Andy Browne, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Therefore, now is not the time to be lecturing our partners and allies.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
That includes lecturing, building curriculum, pursuing research and speaking about university policy.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
Katie da Cunha Lewin is a writer based in London, currently lecturing in 20th and 21st-century literature at Coventry University.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Sometimes the messages got feisty, with Epstein lecturing Karp over a fee.
—Tom Schoenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Before the world complicated things with espresso machines, oat milk debates, and influencers lecturing to you about grind size, wild coffee trees were clinging to the Ethiopian highlands.
—John Noakes, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
In response, lip lift education ramped up across the field, with specialists lecturing on it at meetings and teaching it in courses.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
Christian author Philip Yancey is retiring from writing and lecturing after admitting to a long-running affair with a married woman.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Andy Browne, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Therefore, now is not the time to be lecturing our partners and allies.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
That includes lecturing, building curriculum, pursuing research and speaking about university policy.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
Katie da Cunha Lewin is a writer based in London, currently lecturing in 20th and 21st-century literature at Coventry University.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Sometimes the messages got feisty, with Epstein lecturing Karp over a fee.
—Tom Schoenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Before the world complicated things with espresso machines, oat milk debates, and influencers lecturing to you about grind size, wild coffee trees were clinging to the Ethiopian highlands.
—John Noakes, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
In response, lip lift education ramped up across the field, with specialists lecturing on it at meetings and teaching it in courses.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
Christian author Philip Yancey is retiring from writing and lecturing after admitting to a long-running affair with a married woman.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lecturing
Verb
-
First, as the Florida ACLU’s Howard Simon points out, Uthmeier is not scolding another branch of government.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Security guard Pascal Duvier, most recently infamous for allegedly scolding 11-year-old Ada Law at a hotel in São Paulo, is clearing the air.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Comparatively speaking, sending a few marines to Da Nang was just a spark.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
That’s where Vachon, a small-town farm boy from French-speaking Quebec, came in.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hart was reprimanding Ross for doing what is the most offensive thing a comedian can do — suck up to the most important person in the room — and enforcing an old ethic in comedy, which is not apologizing for your jokes.—
Robert Lynch,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Indeed, Ye didn’t say much of anything during the two-hour concert beyond a number of reprimanding comments directed at his stage crew.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Smith said after talking to Gregg, Wheels Up reduced the price to $850, but storage fees for having the car since April 1 bring the grand total to at least $2,600.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The brand promises results in four weeks—we’re talking reduced fine lines, dullness, and dark circles, along with improved elasticity, thanks to collagen-stimulating regrowth that encourages a more youthful appearance.—
Lauren Pardee,
InStyle,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rory McIlroy was similarly vocal, criticizing the league, Saudi Arabian money, the players, and CEO Norman.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor took a swipe at fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh at an event on April 7, criticizing her bench-mate for his recent opinion in an immigration case.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lecturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lecturing. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
