scolding 1 of 2

noun

Definition of scoldingnext
as in talking-to

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

scolding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of scold
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scolding
Noun
Following Putin’s scolding of his aides on Wednesday, the central bank chief said Thursday that Russia’s unemployment rate remained at a historic low of 2% as the war created a lack of available workers, forcing employers to compete for staff. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2026 The scolding was met with more meows and barks. — Clara McMichael, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Amazon Prime Video broadcasters all considered the male Fever fan guilty before details of what actually happened came out, scolding him on air for his behavior. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Eventually, all charges were dropped days before trial, with Perry scolding prosecutors for violating the inherent trust placed in the office. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scolding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scolding
  1. talking-to
  2. reprimanding
  3. lesson
  4. lecturing
  5. lecture
  6. criticizing
  7. punishment
  8. blaming
Noun
  • This is a really good writer-talking-to-another-writer question.
    — Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
  • 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
Definition of talking-to
Verb
  • Instead of reprimanding his pet, Linnetz seems to recognize the moment as a potentially good shot.
    — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The audience awkwardly chuckles, and Scovel, eyes still closed, begins reprimanding them.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of reprimanding
Noun
  • That circumspection is the result of some hard lessons from a century of booms and busts.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • After a brief safety lesson on navigating the course and its cables, participants can ride a zip line into the park, gliding 60 feet above the quarry floor at speeds exceeding 30 mph.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lesson
Verb
  • Respondents in England and Australia were more likely to associate teaching with institutional, credentialed and paid professional roles, such as nursing, lecturing and social work.
    — Gustavo E. Fischman, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For decades, Zinn traveled the country lecturing to packed auditoriums.
    — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lecturing
Noun
  • Nearly all of their rituals are rooted in female submission, expressed without words to keep the film from feeling like a lecture.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Biographers of Berryman, including Eileen, tend to record the Shakespeare lecture as a turning point of sorts for the American poet.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of lecture
Verb
  • Pentecostal parents Ruth and Marius were accused of domestic violence, with worldwide protests criticizing what dissenters called harsh and hasty steps taken by Norwegian social workers without proper evidence.
    — Tomris Laffly, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Cofer is criticizing Guerra’s absence from the vote and is asking him to publicly state his position on the partnership.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of criticizing
Noun
  • Hollywood Park sees that as punishment for challenging the billboard deal.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The team was fined $30 million and lost five consecutive draft picks from 2029 through 2033 as punishment.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of punishment
Verb
  • The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the shift, a claim that was bolstered by statements from Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth blaming Musk’s SpaceX for any change.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner earlier in October said that Lewis was acquitted in a previous murder case, blaming police misconduct for the outcome.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of blaming

Browse Nearby Words

scolded
scolding
scoldings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scolding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scolding. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All