as in reprimanding
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
he scolded the kids for not cleaning up the mess they had made in the kitchen
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in talking-to
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scolding
Brian Melley and Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
From her sharp scolding of a student nurse to her own tears of self-recrimination, Floria is a full-blooded and beautifully etched character and, yes, a heroine.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Shipp is tasked with scolding her father and delivering leaden exposition.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scolding
Verb
The meeting had been overshadowed by the extraordinary scolding.
—Noun
Miss Sammie flashed the scolding look Jean had known since childhood, though playfully now.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for scolding
Noun
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Never underestimate the combined powers of a Liv Benson talking-to and a New York slice.—
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Roberts pulled the reliever in, gave him what seemed like a fatherly talking-to, and – after Ramirez got out of the inning with the very next pitch – noted that sometimes the best course is not to yell and scream at a player.—
Verb
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Since exiting Dries Van Noten a few years ago, Scallon has been working as an independent consultant and mentor in fashion communications strategy, also lecturing occasionally and sharing his views about creative content on podcasts.—
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The same woman Don had been lecturing about beer.—
Noun
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Advertisement Lessons learned Along the way, Koh admits she’s made mistakes and learned some hard lessons.—
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Army leaders say the Switchblade is one of several technologies being folded into armored units as the service adapts lessons from Ukraine and other conflicts, where drones have played an outsized role.—
Verb
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Her coach Cheryl Reeve was later suspended after postgame comments criticizing the officiating in that game.—
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Trump has also spoken at length about his concerns about the New York City mayoral race, criticizing the potential election of progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani, who drew national attention for beating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.—
Noun
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Goodall’s speaking tours brought her to Miami on many occasions, including an April 2023 lecture at Florida International University’s Ocean Bank Convocation Center and, a decade earlier, to the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center (now Watsco Center) in April 2013.—
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This essay was adapted from the Christ Church, Oxford 500th anniversary lecture.—
Verb
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In the wake of the assassination of prominent conservative figure Charlie Kirk, the rhetoric wars have taken to new levels of vitriol, with many on the right blaming the left writ large for such political violence, and vice versa.—
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Both parties are blaming each other, though a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows that more Americans hold Republicans responsible for the impasse.—
Noun
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Henrikson questions the severity of Rupert’s punishment.—
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To censor the very voices trying to find common ground and express their humanity, is wrong, ineffective, and a form of collective punishment.—
Verb
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Caitlin Clark gave support to fellow WNBA star Napheesa Collier, who had referenced Clark when admonishing the league and commissioner Cathy Engelbert in fiery remarks earlier this week.—
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One of the most emblematic moments of the week came in the morning session when the camera and microphone caught McIlroy admonishing rowdy fans before a shot.—
Cite this Entry
“Scolding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scolding. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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