as in condemnation
an often public or formal expression of disapproval
at a specially called meeting, he read the riot act to his staff for their poor handling of the crisis
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Recent Examples of riot act
Glenn Cassidy, a 30-year faculty veteran and director of the backpacking project since 2007, assembles all 185 or so freshmen on the first day of spring term to read them the riot act about the project.
—
Anthony Depalma, Mercury News, 22 May 2026
Half of MomTok, led by Jessi, spent the previous evening reading Dakota the riot act for hooking up with a friend of Taylor’s.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
But this wasn’t the guy who struggled earlier this season to the point that Cronin had to read him the riot act, as he has been known to do.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
In a speech at NATO headquarters in February, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth read the riot act to European allies and Canada.
—Lorne Cook, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
During negotiations for a cease-fire, Steven Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, read Netanyahu the riot act, potentially pushing the deal over the line—even before Trump took office.
—Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025
In the late ’80s, for example, he was implicated (and read the riot act by a court for his actions) in the goring and critical injury of a fellow outdoorsman, an event that cost Peter at least one of his oldest friends in Africa.
—Chris Wallace, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024
Expert John reads him the riot act, and says that Timmy is either going to have to give Lucinda a smooch and lean into the affection — or the relationship is dunzo.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 11 Feb. 2024
That includes the recent case of James Young, which the Daily News first reported last month, who wasn’t transferred to a medical facility for a highly contagious MRSA infection until Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Dora Irizarry read Bureau of Prisons lawyers and prosecutors the riot act.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2024
Anthony Depalma, Mercury News, 22 May 2026
Half of MomTok, led by Jessi, spent the previous evening reading Dakota the riot act for hooking up with a friend of Taylor’s.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
But this wasn’t the guy who struggled earlier this season to the point that Cronin had to read him the riot act, as he has been known to do.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
In a speech at NATO headquarters in February, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth read the riot act to European allies and Canada.
—Lorne Cook, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
During negotiations for a cease-fire, Steven Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, read Netanyahu the riot act, potentially pushing the deal over the line—even before Trump took office.
—Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025
In the late ’80s, for example, he was implicated (and read the riot act by a court for his actions) in the goring and critical injury of a fellow outdoorsman, an event that cost Peter at least one of his oldest friends in Africa.
—Chris Wallace, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024
Expert John reads him the riot act, and says that Timmy is either going to have to give Lucinda a smooch and lean into the affection — or the relationship is dunzo.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 11 Feb. 2024
That includes the recent case of James Young, which the Daily News first reported last month, who wasn’t transferred to a medical facility for a highly contagious MRSA infection until Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Dora Irizarry read Bureau of Prisons lawyers and prosecutors the riot act.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riot act
Noun
-
Overflowing with grace and mercy, Jud yearns to embrace his parishioners in their human brokenness, without condemnation.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
11 Dec. 2025
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The penalty drew swift condemnation from Vice President JD Vance even before the European Commission announced it.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The judiciary's system for policing misconduct includes punishment such as informal warnings and public reprimands.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
9 June 2026
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The filing references a confidential judicial disciplinary matter within the 11th Circuit involving an unnamed federal judge who allegedly attended a partisan political event and later received a private reprimand.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riot act.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riot%20act. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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