TONGUE-LASHING Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

tongue-lashing 1 of 2

noun

as in invective

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tongue-lashing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of tongue-lash

as in scolding

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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-lashing

Noun

His followers responded with a steady stream of invective, describing Atkin and Jammi in misogynistic and, at times, dehumanizing language.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
The online pile-on, often expressed through personal invective.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026

Definition of invective

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
Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.

— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Definition of scolding

Noun

Instead people voted with their wallets and not a single person was harmed except maybe some marketing guys getting a tongue lashing.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Attendees will explore a variety of types of vertical support structures and learn to tie different rope knots and lashings useful for creating plant support structures for our own garden.

— Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026

Definition of lashing

Verb

College professors spend less time lecturing than a typical sportswriter creating fake controversies to criticize.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
If and until that day comes, there will be fingerpointing, lecturing and posturing, all of which has flowed freely in the wake of the Sorsby decision.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 June 2026

Definition of lecturing

Noun

After France knocked out Paraguay in this year’s World Cup, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla launched her own racist tirade attacking Mbappé and his national identity.

— Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
The publicist has contacted SPIN’s top management with a tirade against me.

— Matt Thompson, SPIN, 13 July 2026

Definition of tirade

Verb

Her Volumnia bellows at her meek daughter-in-law, Virgilia (Justine Faith) as though reprimanding an incompetent private.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Earlier this week, Scott Agness claimed his press credentials were revoked by the team after his reporting led to the WNBA reprimanding the Fever for not being transparent about Clark’s health status during a game on May 20.

— Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026

Definition of reprimanding

Noun

Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event.

— Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
The politicization of the COVID response has only worsened this trend, likely resulting in part from Trump’s vituperation.

— Matt Motta, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024

Definition of vituperation

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.

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tongue-lashes

tongue-lashing

tongue-lashings

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Style

“Tongue-lashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue-lashing. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of tongue-lashing

noun

verb

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