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
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The impulse to criticize, lecture, or clamp down hard comes from a place of pain.—
Robyn Koslowitz,
Parents,
19 Sep. 2025
-
At the other end of the bar, Don was smirking as though looking forward to the lecture Odette was going to give Charlie.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The first quarter moon in Capricorn advises taking charge and addressing shared resources.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Around mid-Saturday morning, when the broadcast suggested to viewers that the Americans might be gaining momentum, the camera next focused on Jon Rahm standing with his feet in a bunker, addressing a sidehill lie at knee-height.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Throughout every stage, BBK’s commitment to small cohorts, personalized feedback, and monthly leadership lessons fosters a studio culture that values process over perfection, encouraging collaboration, creative risk-taking, and continuous growth.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Always showing up is the biggest lesson that my dad instilled in me.—
Heran Mamo,
Billboard,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Staying Grounded Under Fire: How to Lead with Emotional Resilience One client faced a public dressing-down from his boss during a project meeting.—
Naz Beheshti,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Henrikson questions the severity of Rupert’s punishment.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
To censor the very voices trying to find common ground and express their humanity, is wrong, ineffective, and a form of collective punishment.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That admonishment could easily dissuade American women from treating a symptom that could endanger their child.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
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Officials who accept anything that is not somehow related to city business are breaking the law and face consequences ranging from an admonishment to criminal prosecution.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, Dreaming Eli was more pared back with three, eyebrow-scraping top lashes, choosing length over volume.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Sep. 2025
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The star of her makeup look is her dreamy lavender eyeshadow, topping off the look with a couple rhinestones on the corners of her eye and bottom lash line.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Talking-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking-to. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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