as in scolding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in speaking (to or with)
to communicate with by means of spoken words
I had never talked to a real live cowboy before
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of talking-to
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 16 Jan. 2025
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.
—Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 30 May 2024
Noun
Never underestimate the combined powers of a Liv Benson talking-to and a New York slice.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 16 Jan. 2025
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.
—Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 30 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking-to
Noun
-
The meeting had been overshadowed by the extraordinary scolding.—
Brian Melley and Emma Burrows,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2025
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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
Noun
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That earned him a gentle lecture from his mom about Michelle, and women in general, not being his property.—
Mara Wilson,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2025
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It’s become common to see Self lecture Storr about his defense on the sideline.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The world is likely to never see Ezra Edelman’s multi-part Prince documentary after the artist’s estate killed it, but Questlove is still pondering its lessons.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
16 Mar. 2025
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The bundle also includes comprehensive lessons on other Microsoft Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Access, covering both basic interfaces and advanced features.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In other words, if the board finds the union does not represent the players, especially without substantively addressing the legal question of whether the players are employees within the meaning of the NLRA, the matter would likely end there.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
31 Dec. 2024
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Any partnership or sponsorship agreement must include specific provisions addressing TikTok unavailability.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Kyiv have risen to a boiling point, culminating in a spectacular public dressing-down of Ukraine’s Zelenskyy last Friday by U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2025
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Nine goals, a 30-minute hat-trick, an unlikely comeback, a last-gasp winner, comedic errors and a dressing-down on the pitch at full-time, all played out in teeming rain in Lisbon, made this a night to remember.—
Tim Spiers,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Leadership strategies that involve coercion, and emphasize punishment, don’t feel very modern.—
Chris Westfall,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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Columbia University on Thursday announced some students who occupied a campus building last spring during anti-Israel protests would face a range of punishments, including expulsions and suspensions.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The actress kept her makeup look to a minimum, opting for a subtle glossy lip and bold lashes, and wore her hair in loose curls.—
Lori A Bashian Fox News,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
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Typically reserved for lashes and liners, a mix of the new Prada Lines Durable Gliding Eye Pencils in black and brown shades was first used to fill the brows and define the squared, straight shape desired.—
Sandra Salibian,
WWD,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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At a lengthy hearing in 2021, a judge gave him a stern admonition but declined to send him back to jail.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2025
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This admonition of questionable grammatical construction is echoed from the heights of academia.—
Eric Heavner,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Talking-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking-to. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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