tell off

verb

Definition of tell offnext
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 Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha praised comedian Jerry Seinfeld for telling off an anti-Israel influencer after a New York Knicks game Wednesday. — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2026 When Hunt didn’t seem to flinch at the thought, Steadman recalled, Steadman told off the insistent Dixon. — Kansas City Star, 26 Nov. 2025 In a viral TikTok video, a golden retriever gets told off for being annoying—his reaction to being scolded melts hearts across social-media users. — Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025 Lombardi had voiced her concerns about the impact of the Blue Angels flying over Seattle in 2023, telling off the squadron in an expletive-laden tirade. — Janhvi Bhojwani, NBC news, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tell off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell off
  1. cut up
  2. bawl out
  3. chew out
  4. rag
  5. punish
  6. scold
  7. jaw
  8. lecture
Verb
  • Rifkin also open a bag containing Machado’s black bra and purple T-shirt, both of which were cut up by scissors.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Duke Energy crews are working to cut up the tree and replace the pole, officials said.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of cut up
Verb
  • Trippier and Burn are organisers and not afraid to bawl out their team-mates.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Women stopped to bawl out the police, who accepted this dressing-down with quiet embarrassment.
    — National Geographic, National Geographic, 11 Aug. 2020
Definition of bawl out
Verb
  • Kittens chew to relieve teething discomfort, while adult cats may chew out of boredom, stress or habit.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • 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
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
  • Meanwhile, in England and the United States and across continental Europe, statutes that punished idleness sharpened into vagrancy laws that gave police discretionary power to identify when a form of nonaction constituted criminal disorder.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The state did little to punish the unlicensed farmer who sold it.
    — STAT, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of punish
Verb
  • The Amazon Prime Video broadcasters all considered the male Fever fan guilty before details of what actually happened came out, scolding him on air for his behavior.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Tired of Luann’s antics already, Porsha chats with the other women during it, and Luann doesn’t just yell at her from the stage but walks into the crowd to scold her face-to-face into the microphone.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of scold
Verb
  • Towns intervened as Brady was escorted away from Paul, who continued jawing at the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • After he and Nyland were seen jawing back and forth, Neymar buried the attempt, which was ultimately a consolation goal.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of jaw
Verb
  • The following May, Rogers accepted an invitation from Lee to lecture at two universities in China.
    — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Often, the pincher is in the company of an elder who lectures to her.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of lecture

Browse Nearby Words

tell (of)
tell off
tell (on)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tell off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20off. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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