Thesaurus

reads the riot act (to)

phrase , present tense third-person singular of read the riot act (to)

Synonyms and Antonyms of reads the riot act (to)

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

The officer read the riot act to her for speeding in a school zone.

Synonyms of reads the riot act (to)

bastes, bawls out, berates, calls down, castigates, chastises, chews out, dresses down, flays, hammers, jaws, keelhauls, lambastes (or lambasts), lectures, rags, rails (at or against), rants (at), rates, reams (out), rebukes, reprimands, reproaches, scolds, scores, tongue-lashes, upbraids

Words Related to reads the riot act (to)

admonishes, chides, remonstrates (with), reproves

abuses, assails, attacks, bad-mouths, blames, blasts, censures, condemns, criticizes, crucifies, denounces, disses [slang], excoriates, faults, harangues, knocks, laces (into), lashes, pans, reprehends, reviles, scourges, slams, vituperates

belittles, disparages, mocks, puts down

ridicules, scoffs, scorns

Phrases Synonymous with reads the riot act (to)

lays into, takes to task

Near Antonyms of reads the riot act (to)

approves, endorses (also indorses), sanctions

extols (also extolls), lauds, praises

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WORD OF THE DAY

fiduciary

involving a confidence or trust