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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in invective
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-lashing
Noun
-
The actor also has been involved in occurrences of being verbal and physically aggressive, hurling racists invectives, as well as being out and out violent on a number of occasions.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
22 July 2025 -
After nights of clashes, then-President Donald Trump, known for issuing directives and invectives through social media, fired off a series of posts shortly before 1 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
As the Epstein scandal has heated up again, though, he’s also been on the receiving end of MAGA lashings from supporters who want to see the tapes go public.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
22 July 2025
-
The way that today’s politics works, that should have earned me a lashing on social media.—
Joanna Allhands,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Liberal fans accused Sweeney of being too cozy with family members who backed Donald Trump, while right-wingers launched into the usual tirades about cancel culture (and entertained the idea that Sweeney might be one of their own).—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Schumer takes victory lap after Trump goes on tirade, nominee confirmation deal blows up | RISING Robby Soave and Niall Stanage weigh in on President Trump’s latest antics against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).—
The Hill,
The Hill,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Two supervisors were also disciplined, with one suspended without pay for two days and another receiving a letter of reprimand.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Federal law provides that Srinivasan can dismiss the complaint, find that appropriate corrective action has been taken or appoint a committee to pursue further reprimand.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
The remarks drew an immediate rebuke from Greene, who condemned Fine for cheering on the starvation of civilians.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
31 July 2025
-
The speech, seen as a rebuke of the steroid era, struck a nerve because Sandberg was never a big talker.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
But just this week, BPD arrested two undocumented immigrants caught on camera carrying out a violent attack in Canton.—
WBFF STAFF,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Education has been under attack in Florida for decades; the dumbing down of our schools and society is notorious.—
Robert Kesten,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
-
Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2023
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.
Cite this Entry
“Tongue-lashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue-lashing. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share