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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of talking-to
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
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
-
Avoiding public scolding, vague directions, or emotional reactions can make discipline more effective and respectful.—
Leslie Garisto Pfaff,
Parents,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Flies did not follow me, but someone’s gaze did, leading to a lengthy scolding from my mother.—
Edwidge Danticat,
New Yorker,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The shelving unit that contains some of his collection of roughly 20,000 books stretches to the ceiling of the two-story living room; McDaniel would later perch on its narrow catwalk to deliver his lecture.—
Lila Shapiro,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Very few people want to buy a ticket for a lecture on overconsumption, corporate exploitation, and the dumbing down of public discourse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Another teaches free guitar lessons to keep kids out of trouble.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Glenn carried himself with the confidence of someone who had honed his coaching craft through lessons learned playing for Bill Parcells and working under Sean Payton and Dan Campbell.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On top of that, Petek wrote that over the last four years the governor and Legislature had plugged $125 billion in budget holes largely without addressing the structural differences between spending and revenue which have led budget deficits to grow over time.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Focusing on a single shelf, one drawer, or even just your workout leggings feels a lot simpler than addressing the entire closet.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
-
Earlier this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sat in the Oval Office and endured a brutal dressing-down.—
Tom Nagorski,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The entrepreneur said there was a stunt double for Chalamet's behind; however, the actor insisted on taking the punishment himself.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities imposed a sweeping internet blackout this week that largely cut the country off from the outside world and escalated threats of harsh punishment while anti-regime protests spread.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In every single case where there was a violation of the sanctuary rules, the only thing that was issued was a verbal admonishment.—
Peter Mancina,
The Conversation,
8 Dec. 2025
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Try using a spoon, and you'd get chased away from the stove, admonishments ringing in your ears.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
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There’s also Luum, which launched its newest-generation lash extension robot at Nordstrom around the same time and whose cofounders include veterans of Ekso Bionics, a maker of robotic exoskeletons for stroke and spinal cord injury survivors.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
6 Jan. 2026
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At Imane Ayissi, models wore glossy silver eyeshadow that sparkled like moondust from their lashes to their browbones, while at Emporio Armani and Christopher Esber, models’ lids were left completely bare, with streaks of silver shadow twinkling like stars in their inner corners.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Talking-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking-to. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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