TONGUE-LASHED Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

tongue-lashed

verb

past tense of tongue-lash

as in scolded

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings the drill sergeant tongue-lashed the recruits with a colorful litany of foulmouthed invectives

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-lashed

Verb

In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
For over a year, the White House has scolded and threatened the Smithsonian.

— Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolded

Verb

Luann patiently attempts to explain that the women don’t like being lectured to about their business affairs, only for Vicki to abruptly answer a phone call mid-conversation.

— Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
We’re also lectured early on that Cole is a chess master, but his alleged intelligence never pays off.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of lectured

Verb

Judge William Sullivan declined to declare a mistrial but sharply reprimanded the prosecution and told the jury to disregard Heilbrun’s statements on Clancy’s faith.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit says the officer was reprimanded and removed from further field training of Wadell.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of reprimanded

Verb

Some parties, including wildfire survivors and some lawmakers that represent fire-scarred districts, had criticized his accountability measures as too loose.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
But the union representing former Spirit flight attendants has criticized the carrier for selling the data.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticized

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.

Browse Nearby Words

tongue-lash

tongue-lashed

tongue-lashes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tongue-lashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue-lashed. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tongue-lashed

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gumption

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes