as in reprimanded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
he scolded the kids for not cleaning up the mess they had made in the kitchen
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Recent Examples of scolded
The child, now 6 years old, only hears her full name when she's being scolded — though Kendra and Bill are currently trying to undo that pattern.
—
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026
Katie Porter scolded, Tom Steyer channeled Bernie.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The victim said he was singled out for laughing, scolded, and told to continue reading before being ordered into the hallway.
—Peter D'oench, CBS News, 5 May 2026
Rogers scolded Musk on Tuesday morning for his recent social media posts about the trial and threatened a gag order before the jury arrived in the courtroom.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
So far, to Trump’s dismay, the plaintiff has won some victories; a federal judge repeatedly scolded government lawyers and halted work.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Leon scolded Justice Department attorneys for arguing that the entire project needed to go forward for national security reasons, before previously distinguishing between the bunker below ground and the ballroom above ground.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Chappell also scolded the government lawyers for submitting evidence at the last minute ahead of Monday’s hearing showing that ICE and FDEM websites have now been updated to include information on the facility’s legal visit protocol.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
When the second player protested the contact, Nicholson scolded the player, according to one parent.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026
Katie Porter scolded, Tom Steyer channeled Bernie.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The victim said he was singled out for laughing, scolded, and told to continue reading before being ordered into the hallway.
—Peter D'oench, CBS News, 5 May 2026
Rogers scolded Musk on Tuesday morning for his recent social media posts about the trial and threatened a gag order before the jury arrived in the courtroom.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
So far, to Trump’s dismay, the plaintiff has won some victories; a federal judge repeatedly scolded government lawyers and halted work.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Leon scolded Justice Department attorneys for arguing that the entire project needed to go forward for national security reasons, before previously distinguishing between the bunker below ground and the ballroom above ground.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Chappell also scolded the government lawyers for submitting evidence at the last minute ahead of Monday’s hearing showing that ICE and FDEM websites have now been updated to include information on the facility’s legal visit protocol.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
When the second player protested the contact, Nicholson scolded the player, according to one parent.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scolded
Verb
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The employee has been reprimanded.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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Yeboah was being reprimanded for an incident in Wednesday’s training session, but the exact circumstances are not yet known.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Member of the UK Association of Jungian Analysts, and has taught and lectured at many academic institutions, Jungian organisations, retreat centres and cultural festivals around the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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It was also being lectured by people who presented a formulaic perspective on a complicated future that the class of 2026 is already navigating.—
Ann Kirschner,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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One of the most notable examples came when former MVP James Harden publicly criticized then-Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey after Morey's support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong triggered a backlash from Chinese officials and business partners.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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Trump harshly criticized Powell throughout his tenure as chair, frequently attacking the Fed’s interest-rate decisions and urging the central bank to cut borrowing costs more aggressively.—
Leah Willingham,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Eighty percent of voters cited corporate profits as a top driver of high drug prices, and 73% blamed executive compensation.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
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Trump has blamed his predecessor for many of the nation’s immigration problems.—
Sheldon Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
2 June 2026
Verb
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At one point, Crabtree admonished them to stop talking over each other.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2026
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When news of Israel’s secret outposts in Iraq’s desert emerged, Iraqis admonished their leaders as traitors, and the boisterous militiamen affiliated with the government as impostors for allowing their land to be colonized by an enemy.—
Nabil Salih,
Time,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scolded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scolded. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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