as in scolding
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as in speaking (to or with)
to communicate with by means of spoken words
I had never talked to a real live cowboy before
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of talking-to
Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
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
This is a really good writer-talking-to-another-writer question.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking-to
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
Noun
-
The British Museum elected to postpone a Jewish Culture Month event that was scheduled to take place last Thursday, May 28th due to concerns that the talk—a lecture on Ancient Israel and Judah—might be disrupted by protests.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
1 June 2026
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That’s the case for the group Cabral and some 35,000 other youth belong to, Hakuna, which started in the early 2010s in a Madrid parish when a group of college students set up a weekly hour of Eucharistic adoration, preceded by a short lecture and followed by a meetup at a local bar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Noun
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But the lessons Joe Negri taught countless children on television and students in his classroom will leave a lasting imprint of a legendary career and a legacy that will never be forgotten.—
Kristine Sorensen,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
During her time on set of the ABC dramedy, Longoria learned crucial career lessons.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Xcel also plans to file additional proposals addressing both short-term and long-term power needs.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
-
Peace deals or a crackdown Voters across Latin America are increasingly ditching leaders that pitched progressive policies aimed at addressing the root issues of conflict, such as lack of opportunities for young people and corruption.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
And while this dressing-down of beloved works might seem like another bummer in a world of doomscrolling, @heartthrobanderson is anything but.—
Jessica Lipsky,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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This change comes after Grok received a dressing-down from users and international officials for complying with requests to digitally undress women and underage girls or create sexualized deep fakes of them without their consent.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There are other interesting twists to the original story that highlight different parts of the themes of crime, punishment, family and responsibility.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
Therefore, a second execution would not violate the prohibition on double jeopardy or on the imposition of cruel punishment.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Noun
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In a somewhat direct public admonishment of SpaceX, Sean Duffy, who briefly served as NASA’s acting administrator last year, announced that the space agency would use whichever lander was ready first to complete the landing mission, which is currently slated for as soon as 2028.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
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His ferocity would lead to multiple instances of public admonishment.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Noun
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Makeup artist Kimora Mulan created the bold look featuring dark lip liner, fluttery lashes, and gold shimmer that stretched from her lids to her décolletage.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
1 June 2026
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The esthetician school graduate owns studios in Sale, housing businesses operated by tattoo artists, lash technicians, makeup artists and others specializing in cosmetic treatments.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Talking-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking-to. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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