as in talking-to
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scolding
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 7 June 2025
Neither his pressure on the Ukrainian leader, who Trump lambasted in the Oval Office, nor his recent scolding of the Kremlin ruler appear to have pushed the two sides any closer to a peace deal.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
An exec was dismissed after scolding a contestant, while a judge later left.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scolding
Noun
The scolding came after Combs seemingly nodded at jurors during Bongolan’s testimony about the balcony incident.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 7 June 2025
Neither his pressure on the Ukrainian leader, who Trump lambasted in the Oval Office, nor his recent scolding of the Kremlin ruler appear to have pushed the two sides any closer to a peace deal.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
Verb
Friday saw Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch being crowned Miss Universe 2025, nearly two weeks after a livestream went viral showing pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil scolding her for allegedly refusing to participate in a photo shoot meant for contestants to share on social media.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
An exec was dismissed after scolding a contestant, while a judge later left.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scolding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scolding
Noun
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This is a really good writer-talking-to-another-writer question.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
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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
Verb
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Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
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Censures, a means of formally reprimanding a lawmaker without going so far as to expel them, have historically been rare; in the 200 years after Congress first convened, only 22 House members were censured.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But buried not too deeply beneath the surface of her silly stories are the very hard lessons learned.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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While the world faces many challenges, the history of peace processes offers important lessons for navigating present-day conflict.—
David Dumke,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Katie da Cunha Lewin is a writer based in London, currently lecturing in 20th and 21st-century literature at Coventry University.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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Sometimes the messages got feisty, with Epstein lecturing Karp over a fee.—
Tom Schoenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Saturday afternoon inside the Intuit Dome often felt more like a lecture that needed to end.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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However, naming the Holocaust as a genocide in 2026, the organizers of the lecture about our book feared, would evoke contemporary associations—above all, with the genocide in Gaza.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sun Sentinel commentary criticizing legislation that would allow Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System to collaborate overlooks the real needs of patients, and the data before us.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
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Some of the very people criticizing you are the ones asking for more access.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said Clark deserved a tougher punishment, including being barred from practicing law in the state.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Prosecutors in the case recommended the death penalty as punishment for Yoon, given the severity of his crimes.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Deranque's death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly blaming France Unbowed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Trump has singled out Moore for criticism, blaming him for a Potomac sewage spill, assailing his handing of Baltimore's bridge collapse and invoking a controversy over his military record.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scolding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scolding. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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