bawl out

verb

Definition of bawl outnext
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings got bawled out by the boss for missing another important deadline

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bawl out Women stopped to bawl out the police, who accepted this dressing-down with quiet embarrassment. — National Geographic, 11 Aug. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawl out
  1. scold
  2. lecture
  3. reprimand
  4. blame
  5. chew out
  6. criticize
  7. call down
Verb
  • Back in the fortress, the Man of Steel scolds Krypto for wrecking the joint while he was gone.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
  • After the kid was saved, Beltran scolded the resident, reminding her not to bring her personal life into the ER — or her attending’s.
    — Charlie Mason, TVLine, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of scold
Verb
  • For decades, Washington lectured Beijing about avoiding protectionism, eliminating barriers to foreign investment, and disciplining the use of subsidies and industrial policy—with only modest success.
    — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Boutros has also lectured at the University of Chicago Law School since 2011 and published two books on white-collar law.
    — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of lecture
Verb
  • Logical consistency would require these legislators to reprimand PURA’s rigid approach and call for more regulatory flexibility so utilities can invest proactively in essential cybersecurity measures.
    — Brian Harrell, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025
  • As John Cena and The Rock's Third Man WWE Could Steal Away Top AEW Star: Report Strickland recounted a meeting with Vince McMahon, where the group was reprimanded for a member's aggressive phone call to a WWE office employee regarding B-Fab's flight details.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of reprimand
Verb
  • President Donald Trump repeatedly tried to blame water issues and the Los Angeles fires on the Newsom administration’s management of Delta water supplies.
    — CalMatters, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Usually that takes the form of falsely blaming Israel for all Palestinian woes instead of recognizing Hamas's strategy of profiting off death, whether Israeli or Palestinian.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of blame
Verb
  • But to chew out his boss--Edwin Stanton, secretary of war--would be more than just getting close to the line of insubordination.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025
  • There’s also a story line of Harper being chewed out by Petra when Petra finds out how Harper actually got the information necessary to short Pierpoint, i.e., illegally.
    — Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2024
Definition of chew out
Verb
  • One creative and former National Design Award winner, who has a work visa to be in the U.S., criticized the Trump administration, but declined to comment, due to his residency.
    — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • On Wednesday, Trump announced sweeping tariffs that have been mostly criticized by agricultural and food groups for their potential to shrink markets for farmers and raise consumer prices.
    — Tom Polansek and Leah Douglas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • But Robbins' life was soon upended when he got called down to the principal’s office at Harriton High School and accused of selling drugs.
    — Christine Pelisek, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Four security guards were called down, and the employee ultimately left.
    — Julia Shapero, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of call down

Browse Nearby Words

bawling out
bawl out
bawls
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Cite this Entry

“Bawl out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl%20out. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of bawl out for Spanish Speakers

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