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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-lashing
  1. invective
  2. scolding
  3. lashing
  4. lecturing
  5. tirade
  6. reprimanding
  7. vituperation
  8. reprimand
Noun
  • One invective accuses the directors of destroying the truth-telling potential of documentary.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Alongside his criticisms of Britain, the Argentine president devoted some invective to the United Nations itself.
    — Adrienne Vogt, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of invective
Verb
  • There has always been friction between Reed and Helen, but in the main, Reed has been successful in using a shifting combination of wheedling, scolding, complimenting, and threatening to ensure Helen fullfils her mission objectives.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Liev Schreiber is apologizing for scolding a reporter at the Nocturne premiere.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of scolding
Noun
  • His guests are hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and on a bullet train to rock bottom, desperate enough to hand their financial records over to an online content creator for a public lashing.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In several case studies documented by AHRDO, women who approached the Taliban courts to complain about domestic abuse, violence and even rape were arrested and charged with moral crimes and sentenced to public lashing.
    — Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of lashing
Verb
  • Respondents in England and Australia were more likely to associate teaching with institutional, credentialed and paid professional roles, such as nursing, lecturing and social work.
    — Gustavo E. Fischman, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For decades, Zinn traveled the country lecturing to packed auditoriums.
    — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lecturing
Noun
  • Numerous publications reported that Ian Winter KC launched a tirade at Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin outside Southwark Crown Court.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
  • A week later, Glenn went on a tirade while surrounded by three officials during the Jets’ victory over the Browns.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of tirade
Verb
  • Instead of reprimanding his pet, Linnetz seems to recognize the moment as a potentially good shot.
    — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The audience awkwardly chuckles, and Scovel, eyes still closed, begins reprimanding them.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of reprimanding
Noun
  • As these things go, the tweet exposes Hotez to public vituperation on social media and possibly physical harm.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
  • On March 12, Nickels tweeted a notice of a scientific conference in Washington at which Peter Daszak, the head of a research funding organization who has long been the target of vituperation by lab-leak advocates, would appear on a panel.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Definition of vituperation
Noun
  • If anything, the person’s response should have included the pertinent information; not a reprimand.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Advertisement Federal employees can face several civil penalties if they are found to have violated the Hatch Act, however, including a fine, a suspension, or a letter of reprimand.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of reprimand
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-lashes
tongue-lashing
tongue-lashings
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Cite this Entry

“Tongue-lashing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue-lashing. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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