TELL OFF Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

tell off

verb

Definition of tell off

as in to rail (at or against)

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tell off Moo's hilarious response to being told off is a textbook example of this temperament. — Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 Maybe Simón was a malcontent who told off manager Clayton McCullough. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 Stephen King made a surprise return to X on Feb. 20 to tell off President Trump and Elon Musk, the latter of which owns the social media platform. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025 Deliverance is a game about being told off for sleeping in other people's beds. — David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tell off

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell off

Verb

The director planned to film the killing of a live donkey, which would be cut up for food by actors portraying laborers.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
Unusual colorways and short production runs contribute to rarity, and uncut original lengths are prized, since most bolts have been cut up and used.

— Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026

Definition of cut up

Verb

As my mother bawled out her lungs, the doctor and the nurses remained speechless, stunned not only by my disproportionate weight but also by my appearance: a Chinese Buddha whose eyes were unmoving, untrusting.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Trippier and Burn are organisers and not afraid to bawl out their team-mates.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026

Definition of bawl out

Verb

It was widely reported that team president Masai Ujiri went into Casey’s office after Game 3 to chew out the coach for not preparing his team better to defend James’ memorable game-winner over OG Anunoby, who is now a Knick.

— Eric Koreen, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The episode ends with Kyle’s mom chewing out Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his actions in the ongoing war.

— Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025

Definition of chew out

Verb

With visceral immediacy, O’Farrell channels the terror of arriving in a strange land, ragged and famished, without family, friends, or funds.

— Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2026
Seven years ago, Lyon ran Barcelona ragged in their first women’s Champions League final, consigning them to a 4-1 defeat.

— Megan Feringa, New York Times, 23 May 2026

Definition of rag

Verb

Voting more than once, tampering with ballots, lying about your residence to vote somewhere else or casting someone else’s ballot are crimes that can be punished with hefty fines and prison time.

— Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
The families also told the Herald that complaints to officers about the facilities were punished.

— Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026

Definition of punish

Verb

Remake includes footage of Adrian urging his father to consider Carr’s offer, and gently scolding him for having passed up certain opportunities to make money—money that would have made the family's life better—off his filmmaking acumen.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
In February, a California judge reportedly scolded Meta’s own lawyers for wearing the smart glasses in court.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026

Definition of scold

Verb

He was internationally known as an expert on the work of William Faulkner, teaching and lecturing around the world on the Nobel Prize winner.

— Rebecca McCarthy, AJC.com, 13 July 2026
Parsipur taught at Brown University in the early 2000s and lectured internationally throughout the ensuing decades.

— News Desk, Artforum, 13 July 2026

Definition of lecture

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tell (of)

tell off

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“Tell off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20off. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of tell off

verb

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