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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
-
Despite speaking different languages, Toro Sepulveda and Henry became close friends, both said.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
10 Feb. 2026
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Tangipa asked, speaking on the Assembly floor.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
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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
Verb
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Tenants speaking to the town council Monday said JRK initially directed them to use their renter’s insurance to pay for alternate lodging; the company later agreed to pay those expenses after talking with town officials.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
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Smith thinks taxpayers should spend more time talking to their tax preparers about next year’s taxes.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In multiple phone calls from jail, Nathan Gingles discussed the dependency court case, asking his friend in Texas to pass along information and criticizing Mary’s sister, who was fighting for custody against Schuler.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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Both companies have also gotten more vocal in public in recent weeks, with executives openly criticizing each other's businesses.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lecturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lecturing. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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