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
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
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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
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The scolding was met with more meows and barks.—
Clara McMichael,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Chapman’s lecture was one of several sessions making up the first day of Screen Forever 40, the three-day industry conference marking the 40th edition of the Screen Producers Australia gathering.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
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Audiences are now challenging the media’s monopoly and the top-down lecture modes of addressing viewers and readers, which in some cases can present ethical challenges.—
Shepherd Mpofu,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Just a wonderful man that teaches you lessons, teaches you camaraderie, unity, doing things as a unit, that no one’s different.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
Just a wonderful man that teaches you lessons, teaches you camaraderie, unity, doing things as a unit, no one’s different.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Ude has already observed progress in addressing Nigeria’s cultural disconnect.—
Daron James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
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The session will examine AI’s impact on production, ethics and creative work, while also addressing the rise of vertical microdramas as a mobile-first format.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Noun
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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
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Jurors in a Fort Worth courtroom decided on Tanner Horner’s punishment after hearing about a month of testimony and evidence that included audio of Athena Strand’s last moments from inside the delivery van.—
Jamie Stengle,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Smart also confirmed that Georgia’s NIL collective had begun issuing fines to players as punishment.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
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At the time of Lauersdorf’s public admonishment, Fort Worth firefighter Caleb Halvorson had gained widespread attention after Sedgwick declined to cover some aspects of his treatment.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Mar. 2026
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Layoffs have disproportionately affected their staff and the bimonthly admonishment from the board about their work in recent months has led to a dark mood in the Serna Center.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This is thanks to the dense brush applicator, which is designed with both long and short bristles to comb and coat every lash from root to tip—creating a fanned-out, eye-opening effect that agrees with all lash lengths.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
10 May 2026
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Mohammadi has been arrested 13 times in her life, and sentenced to 31 years in prison and 154 lashes, her foundation states.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Talking-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking-to. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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