as in to reprimand
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scold
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 May 2025
As the Lakers ran back down the floor, coach JJ Redick stood up and scolded his group.
—Jovan Buha, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2022
Bozell, who plays a media scold on television, has written a book that despite its subtitle is neither dogmatic nor even thematic.
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 6 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for scold
Verb
The scolding unfolded during a GOP push to expand work requirements and make other deep cuts in the Medicaid program that provides some 70 million lower-income Americans with health care.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 May 2025
As the Lakers ran back down the floor, coach JJ Redick stood up and scolded his group.
—Jovan Buha, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Noun
When Roger Goodell suspended Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for at least one full season for betting on NFL games, the commissioner was very careful with the wording of his official scold.
—Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2022
Bozell, who plays a media scold on television, has written a book that despite its subtitle is neither dogmatic nor even thematic.
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 6 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for scold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scold
Verb
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In 2022, he was reprimanded for oxycodone trafficking.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
22 May 2025
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The Supreme Court on Monday said Broward County Judge Mardi Levey Cohen will be reprimanded June 3 as part of discipline that also includes a 10-day suspension without pay.—
News Service Of Florida,
Sun Sentinel,
19 May 2025
Verb
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These days, nothing infuriates liberals more than to be lectured about the American plutocracy — not when Trump is perhaps the most brazenly corrupt president to hold the office in modern history.—
Alexander Heffner,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
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Maybe Healey can lecture them on how to sue Trump a hundred times and bankrupt a state on migrant hotel shelters.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Reception – Positive among both critics and fans, if not anything mind-blowing.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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However, critics warn the policy could harm students who are already on track for college placement.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
Verb
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In the Verizon and T-Mobile deals, the FCC only approved the transaction after each company agreed to end DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies criticized by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2025
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Among those who criticized Levi's comments was Tony award-winning Broadway star Norbert Leo Butz, who slammed the actor for using Creel's death to promote an anti-vax agenda.—
Mekishana Pierre Published,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Trump has made similar comments before – admonishing Moscow for its onslaught on Ukraine’s civilians, while also expressing broader grief at the tragedy of war in general, rather than fury at the Kremlin’s specific massacres, say of nine children at a Kryvyi Rih playground days earlier.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Apr. 2025
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Cook County Judge Angela Petrone admonished Brand on Tuesday for delving into questions about Smith’s romantic history after being told not to do so the day before.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2025
Verb
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India blamed Pakistan for the attack, an accusation rejected by Islamabad.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
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Such a strategy seeks to blame the EU for ‘forcing’ its member states to shoulder the burden of caring for refugees, at the expense of their own citizens.—
Frey Lindsay,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
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As Carl berates the rookie about checking the other room, a gunman comes in firing, leaving all three men in a pool of blood.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 May 2025
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Medvedev, now a top security official, was responding to President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social berating his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as Moscow continued to rain strikes down on its neighbor.—
Astha Rajvanshi,
NBC news,
28 May 2025
Verb
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House Republicans chastised Lamont and majority Democrats last month for shorting this contractual obligation by $228 million in their respective budget proposals for the next two fiscal years.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
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Some Democrats chastised universities for cracking down on unruly pro-Palestinian protests.—
Dallas Morning News,
Twin Cities,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scold. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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