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
  • One of the women was cut up and wearing a bathing suit while Kovalcik was shirtless.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Sporting Kansas City joined the vanquished Galaxy and Real Salt Lake on Saturday as LAFC cut up the last-place team in the Western Conference, 4-0.
    — Josh Gross, Daily News, 26 July 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
  • Like Jacas, rookie Khalil Jacobs was punished a couple times for over-pursuing.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
  • At Thursday's rally, vendors called on the city to work with them rather than punish them.
    — Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of punish
Verb
  • Mills was grabbed and scolded by defensive coordinator Aden Durde for his obvious no-no.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Dodge the question, scold the critics and kick the can down the road.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 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
  • Today, young people are increasingly frustrated with the hypocrisy of politicians lecturing them about the virtues of voting while in practice facilitating disengagement.
    — David Neil, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Those experiences deepen understanding in ways that lectures and memorization alone rarely can.
    — Lisa Schade, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lecture

Browse Nearby Words

tell (of)
tell off
tell (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Tell off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell%20off. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of tell off for Spanish Speakers

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