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
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as in scolding
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Verb
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
-
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
Noun
-
Nat Geo experts provide photo advice, and historians and marine biologists host onboard lectures.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
3 July 2025
-
What: This two-day event features Irish music and dances, a children's festival, a genealogy expert, lectures on Irish history and authentic Irish dishes, such as Guinness stew, corned beef sandwiches, homemade scones, soda bread and more.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
Similar to linebacker, the Bears’ moves up front this offseason make addressing safety a possibility in the draft.—
Kevin Fishbain,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Toxic positivity often prevents teams from fully addressing difficult problems.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Sustainability Makes Supply Chains Stronger The pandemic may be in the past, but its lessons about supply chain fragility remain relevant.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
But what if this isn’t a fight to win, but a lesson in learning how to hold your center amidst chaos?—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Nothing, perhaps, has grated more than last month’s Oval Office dressing-down of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.—
Ned Temko,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 June 2025
-
Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember.—
Tim Spiers,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Márquez’s success prevented him from leaving Cuba, and as a result, he was sent to work in agriculture as punishment.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
-
There was, however, a fateful exception: slavery or involuntary servitude would remain permissible as punishment for crimes.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Their faces were impassive, but their eyes had lids and lashes that blinked.—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
-
This is done via the hook-and-roll-style brush, which uses tiny hooks to catch each lash.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
Rob Blanchard, the governor’s communications director, already had announced an end to the press conference, an admonition ignored by the press — and governor.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
24 June 2025
-
Tens of thousands were expected to march from Daley Plaza and coalesce in defiance and admonition of Trump near the downtown hotel tower bearing his name.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Talking-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking-to. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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