as in reprimanding
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in talking-to
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scolding
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
After the meeting, Mr. Schumer pulled him aside for a rare scolding.
—Annie Karni, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Though beset by soul-breaking external pressures — including frequent scoldings from his boss, Gloria (Michael Hyatt), for the hospital’s low patient-satisfaction scores — Robby is a bottomless vessel for the pain, anger, fear, frustration, and heartbreak of those around him.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Still, in many voters’ minds, the association between Democrats and supercilious scolding seems hard to shake.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for scolding
Verb
From her sharp scolding of a student nurse to her own tears of self-recrimination, Floria is a full-blooded and beautifully etched character and, yes, a heroine.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
After the meeting, Mr. Schumer pulled him aside for a rare scolding.
—Annie Karni, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Though beset by soul-breaking external pressures — including frequent scoldings from his boss, Gloria (Michael Hyatt), for the hospital’s low patient-satisfaction scores — Robby is a bottomless vessel for the pain, anger, fear, frustration, and heartbreak of those around him.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Still, in many voters’ minds, the association between Democrats and supercilious scolding seems hard to shake.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for scolding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scolding
Noun
-
Never underestimate the combined powers of a Liv Benson talking-to and a New York slice.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Roberts pulled the reliever in, gave him what seemed like a fatherly talking-to, and – after Ramirez got out of the inning with the very next pitch – noted that sometimes the best course is not to yell and scream at a player.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Orange County Register,
30 May 2024
Noun
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Sustainability Makes Supply Chains Stronger The pandemic may be in the past, but its lessons about supply chain fragility remain relevant.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
But what if this isn’t a fight to win, but a lesson in learning how to hold your center amidst chaos?—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Finally, Assad’s fall has fueled domestic discontent among loyalists to the regime in Tehran, with some calling the loss a strategic blunder and openly criticizing the government on state television.—
Hamidreza Azizi,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Dec. 2024
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Shiney-Ajay said Harris should have spent additional time criticizing lawmakers—like Manchin and Congressional Republicans—who limited the administration's climate goals, using it as a chance to emphasize her intent to seek greater climate victories in the future.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Nat Geo experts provide photo advice, and historians and marine biologists host onboard lectures.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
3 July 2025
-
Central Florida Stamp Club: Meetings include auctions and informative lectures.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Márquez’s success prevented him from leaving Cuba, and as a result, he was sent to work in agriculture as punishment.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
-
There was, however, a fateful exception: slavery or involuntary servitude would remain permissible as punishment for crimes.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Their faces were impassive, but their eyes had lids and lashes that blinked.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
-
This is done via the hook-and-roll-style brush, which uses tiny hooks to catch each lash.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Nothing, perhaps, has grated more than last month’s Oval Office dressing-down of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.—
Ned Temko,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 June 2025
-
Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember.—
Tim Spiers,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Rob Blanchard, the governor’s communications director, already had announced an end to the press conference, an admonition ignored by the press — and governor.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
24 June 2025
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Tens of thousands were expected to march from Daley Plaza and coalesce in defiance and admonition of Trump near the downtown hotel tower bearing his name.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scolding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scolding. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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