as in scolded
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keelhauled
Verb
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During the trip, the priest who was showing them around was scolded.—
McKinley Franklin,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026 -
The president himself scolded a New York Times reporter for asking about the cost and whether Amazon was seeking to get in his good graces.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Dorsainvil recalled also being reprimanded for promoting an event at the center via a billboard and for speaking with media.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
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The law banning smoking in restaurants hadn’t yet taken effect, but Wheeler reprimanded him anyway.—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Michael Woroniecki lectured about Satan being a very powerful force.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
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If someone senses they’re being lectured or criticized, their walls will go up, and the conversation will stall.—
Devon Kuntzman,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When Seattle gave up 38 points in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, Macdonald blamed himself for overloading the defensive game plan.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Democrats think Trump is only engaging because of his sagging poll numbers and his sensitivity to getting blamed for another shutdown.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Keelhauled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keelhauled. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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