as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
there's no need to keelhaul him—it was an honest mistake, and a small one at that
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Recent Examples of keelhaul
And other than a recession, which generally keelhauls buyback plans, don’t expect companies to ease off their repurchases.
—
Larry Light, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2019
The threat posed by the AT&T-Time Warner merger is all the greater today because of the Trump administration’s initiative in keelhauling network neutrality at the Federal Communications Commission.
—Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, 12 June 2018
Larry Light, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2019
The threat posed by the AT&T-Time Warner merger is all the greater today because of the Trump administration’s initiative in keelhauling network neutrality at the Federal Communications Commission.
—Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, 12 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keelhaul
Verb
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But after one more chuckle, Julia jumps in and scolds her too.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
5 Jan. 2025
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Copied Share Laughter as Putin appears to scold the moderator Keir Simmons Reporting from Moscow Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov who is moderating the conference scolded people for asking more than one question, only to be mildly mocked by Putin.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Instead of a letter of concern, the board officially reprimanded Simmons.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
15 Jan. 2025
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Handler told Parade in a Jan. 3 cover story that the Grace and Frankie star reprimanded her for poor behavior at the event.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Weissmann also lectured at Harvard, Yale and the AFI and taught at USC and Sherwood Oaks Experimental College.—
Mike Barnes,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Jan. 2025
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But first, she is scolded, lectured and psychoanalyzed by the prosecutor and judge.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Finally, blaming the pharmaceutical industry for high drug costs has historically been PBMs’ go-to defense.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
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And voters’ belief that its beneficiaries are complacent elitists skilled only in symbolic victory can no longer be blamed on brainwashing by right-wing media.—
Matt Brennan,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near keelhaul
Cite this Entry
“Keelhaul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keelhaul. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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