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
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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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But those lessons created the best developer tooling, auditing practices, and frameworks in the space.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Hutcherson admits Driver needed some swim lessons at first because the dog's energetic swim tendencies were causing issues.—
Logan Holland,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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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While most have become accustomed and perhaps even oblivious to McGregor’s online rants, openly criticizing a business partner is a little dicey.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Stamets, always a crowd favorite, will also offer a keynote lecture on how psilocybin mushrooms can save the world.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
6 Aug. 2025
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Central Florida Stamp Club: Meetings include auctions and informative lectures.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In addition to a 25% tariff set to go into effect Thursday, Trump also announced a 25% tariff on India that will go into effect later this month as punishment for importing Russian oil and gas.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
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Even many diehard Trump supporters grimaced, fearful of punishment at the polls.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The green hues dragged across her lash line and in her waterline stood out next to her red knit ensemble.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Aug. 2025
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And, for something even softer, Kash Doll showed us how to keep beauty natural with a glossy lip, sleek eyeliner, and signature lashes.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Aug. 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
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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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MacManus initially embraced her mother’s admonition that education was the way to get ahead and didn’t make a career out of Cielito Lindo.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 July 2025
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Even with the other guys' admonitions not to, under any circumstances, be themselves, Dee and Charlie's improbable success in charming these scions of the Philly upper crust had the guys — and us — both baffled and anxiously awaiting an ugly twist.—
Dennis Perkins,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scolding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scolding. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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