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
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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
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Recent Examples of lecturing
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
After teaching at Sacramento City College and lecturing at UC Davis, Fisher moved into public history, working with the California Office of Historic Preservation and the Architectural History Department at Caltrans.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Teaching, writing, lecturing, coaching, creating, or launching digital products becomes profitable.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025
And now, with several countries withdrawing from global governance, Jin thinks those lecturing China on being responsible are being hypocritical.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025
One man determined to change this is Christos Tsirogiannis, a Greek forensic archaeologist lecturing at Cambridge University.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
This development meant that Sir John no longer jets around the world at taxpayers’ expense polluting the air and lecturing people about the end of the world while attending various climate change conferences in Switzerland with other jet-setting air polluters.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
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
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
After teaching at Sacramento City College and lecturing at UC Davis, Fisher moved into public history, working with the California Office of Historic Preservation and the Architectural History Department at Caltrans.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Teaching, writing, lecturing, coaching, creating, or launching digital products becomes profitable.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025
And now, with several countries withdrawing from global governance, Jin thinks those lecturing China on being responsible are being hypocritical.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025
One man determined to change this is Christos Tsirogiannis, a Greek forensic archaeologist lecturing at Cambridge University.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
This development meant that Sir John no longer jets around the world at taxpayers’ expense polluting the air and lecturing people about the end of the world while attending various climate change conferences in Switzerland with other jet-setting air polluters.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lecturing
Verb
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Crucially, the film avoids the trap of scolding younger generations or romanticizing the past.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
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Sanders, by now a perennial candidate, perfected his craggy, scolding, mitten-waving style.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Each class is a one- hour adventure of hearing and speaking another language.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Multiple Trumpworld insiders sounded the alarm on the issue while speaking with the Washington Examiner on Monday.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Censures, a means of formally reprimanding a lawmaker without going so far as to expel them, have historically been rare; in the 200 years after Congress first convened, only 22 House members were censured.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
21 Nov. 2025
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When conversation veers into controversial territory, Gott suggests redirecting rather than reprimanding.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the industry now begins talking seriously about agentic AI, a more independent and decision-capable form of artificial intelligence, the question is no longer whether AI will reshape cars, but how far it should be allowed to go.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Many survivors have been helped by talking things through with a licensed psychotherapist.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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President Erdoğan mastered this approach—publicly criticizing rate decisions, invoking Islamic prohibitions on interest, signaling displeasure through state media—until governors either complied or departed.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Justice Department also launched a probe into Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their public statements criticizing the presence of ICE in the state.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lecturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lecturing. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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