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
In Zambrano’s case, Gee scolded the government over how the detention unfolded.
—
Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
He is being groomed, playing, testing boundaries and even being scolded which are all part of normal social learning for young macaques.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026
As the Sentinel’s Cristobal Reyes has reported, federal judges based in Orlando have scolded prosecutors multiple times in recent weeks for detaining people who should have been set free, with one judge memorably comparing the current actions of ICE to those of a third-world country.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
No fan should be told how to follow their team, nor be scolded for feeling conflicted, especially as Spurs supporters have been put in this unenviable bind by the failings of their club — rather than the other way around.
—Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
During the trip, the priest who was showing them around was scolded.
—Mckinley Franklin, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
The president himself scolded a New York Times reporter for asking about the cost and whether Amazon was seeking to get in his good graces.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Be brave, and resist falling back on English Don’t fear being laughed at or scolded for speaking imperfectly, said Massimo Macchiavello, the marketing manager for Posta, a destination management company in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
And Curry has been scolded by his mom plenty of times, too.
—Janie McCauley, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
He is being groomed, playing, testing boundaries and even being scolded which are all part of normal social learning for young macaques.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026
As the Sentinel’s Cristobal Reyes has reported, federal judges based in Orlando have scolded prosecutors multiple times in recent weeks for detaining people who should have been set free, with one judge memorably comparing the current actions of ICE to those of a third-world country.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
No fan should be told how to follow their team, nor be scolded for feeling conflicted, especially as Spurs supporters have been put in this unenviable bind by the failings of their club — rather than the other way around.
—Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
During the trip, the priest who was showing them around was scolded.
—Mckinley Franklin, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
The president himself scolded a New York Times reporter for asking about the cost and whether Amazon was seeking to get in his good graces.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Be brave, and resist falling back on English Don’t fear being laughed at or scolded for speaking imperfectly, said Massimo Macchiavello, the marketing manager for Posta, a destination management company in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
And Curry has been scolded by his mom plenty of times, too.
—Janie McCauley, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scolded
Verb
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Last year, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded and admonished Givens, citing conduct that included allowing a staff member to impersonate her during a 2021 bond hearing and taking action in cases after she had been recused.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Jonathan was even reprimanded more than once for his name-calling and demeaning attitude towards Ana.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Thiel has previously written and lectured on the subject, arguing that the Antichrist is not necessarily a person but could come as a global government system.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
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My father founded private hospitals south of Johannesburg, and my mother lectured anatomy, presiding over dissections and preparing meat dishes at home with the same attentive care — removing sinew and fat with a dedicated set of kitchen scalpels.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some North Natomas residents have criticized the project, which is getting underway during a heated re-election campaign for Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, who represents the area.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The report card project has been criticized by several Jewish campus groups as over-simplified and unnuanced, but schools are taking it seriously.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ukrainian officials have blamed the damage on Russian drone attacks.—
LORNE COOK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Another witness told police that Nicholas was angry with Richardson over a car accident for which the suspect blamed the victim.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Pittman, who had already admonished another defense lawyer for bringing an authorized poster board that juxtaposed scenes of seemingly peaceful protest with a fiery riot, suggested that the defense was trying to equate its side of the case with the civil rights movement.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Bauder admonished the crowd several times for being too noisy, and police removed a protester who yelled vulgar comments.—
Heather Hollingsworth,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scolded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scolded. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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