as in condemnation
an often public or formal expression of disapproval
at a specially called meeting, he read the riot act to his staff for their poor handling of the crisis
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Recent Examples of riot act
Glenn Cassidy, a 30-year faculty veteran and director of the backpacking project since 2007, assembles all 185 or so freshmen on the first day of spring term to read them the riot act about the project.
—
Anthony Depalma, Mercury News, 22 May 2026
Half of MomTok, led by Jessi, spent the previous evening reading Dakota the riot act for hooking up with a friend of Taylor’s.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
But this wasn’t the guy who struggled earlier this season to the point that Cronin had to read him the riot act, as he has been known to do.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
In a speech at NATO headquarters in February, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth read the riot act to European allies and Canada.
—Lorne Cook, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
During negotiations for a cease-fire, Steven Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, read Netanyahu the riot act, potentially pushing the deal over the line—even before Trump took office.
—Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025
In the late ’80s, for example, he was implicated (and read the riot act by a court for his actions) in the goring and critical injury of a fellow outdoorsman, an event that cost Peter at least one of his oldest friends in Africa.
—Chris Wallace, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024
Expert John reads him the riot act, and says that Timmy is either going to have to give Lucinda a smooch and lean into the affection — or the relationship is dunzo.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 11 Feb. 2024
That includes the recent case of James Young, which the Daily News first reported last month, who wasn’t transferred to a medical facility for a highly contagious MRSA infection until Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Dora Irizarry read Bureau of Prisons lawyers and prosecutors the riot act.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2024
Anthony Depalma, Mercury News, 22 May 2026
Half of MomTok, led by Jessi, spent the previous evening reading Dakota the riot act for hooking up with a friend of Taylor’s.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
But this wasn’t the guy who struggled earlier this season to the point that Cronin had to read him the riot act, as he has been known to do.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
In a speech at NATO headquarters in February, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth read the riot act to European allies and Canada.
—Lorne Cook, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
During negotiations for a cease-fire, Steven Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, read Netanyahu the riot act, potentially pushing the deal over the line—even before Trump took office.
—Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025
In the late ’80s, for example, he was implicated (and read the riot act by a court for his actions) in the goring and critical injury of a fellow outdoorsman, an event that cost Peter at least one of his oldest friends in Africa.
—Chris Wallace, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024
Expert John reads him the riot act, and says that Timmy is either going to have to give Lucinda a smooch and lean into the affection — or the relationship is dunzo.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 11 Feb. 2024
That includes the recent case of James Young, which the Daily News first reported last month, who wasn’t transferred to a medical facility for a highly contagious MRSA infection until Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Dora Irizarry read Bureau of Prisons lawyers and prosecutors the riot act.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riot act
Noun
-
The incident triggered panic among students and parents and drew condemnation from city and state leaders who said federal officials had assured them immigration enforcement would not occur at schools.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
11 June 2026
-
And was anyone surprised by the lack of immediate condemnation and outrage from Mayor Mamdani?—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The judiciary's system for policing misconduct includes punishment such as informal warnings and public reprimands.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
9 June 2026
-
The board issued Walton a formal reprimand Monday, June 1, and ordered her to complete continuing education credits on ethics, professionalism and boundaries.—
Amber Gaudet
June 4,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riot act.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riot%20act. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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