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
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
David Goldman, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
She would be scolded and wanted to protect her sister.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for scold
Verb
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
Noun
Trump has publicly scolded Massie for his opposition.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
She would be scolded and wanted to protect her sister.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for scold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scold
Verb
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Officer Juan Gonzalez, a 12-year Miami Gardens police veteran, described being reprimanded for speaking to other Hispanic officers at a crime scene.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
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Ruben is sailing across the Atlantic with them (which Duncan rightfully reprimands him for later – like really, who brings a small child across the ocean in a sailboat?).—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The type of boy to break up fights at school and lecture his fellow classmates, Steeno added.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
9 July 2025
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The designer published his autobiography, continued to lecture about fashion.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
Noun
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Wang has been praised by critics and fans for his candor about his life and working in the entertainment industry, where many artists refused to discuss their mental health or the struggles of being an idol.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
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Not long afterward, I was amused when a critic who reviewed a Paul Simon concert at Carnegie Hall marvelled at the timeworn timbre of Simon’s old D-28.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Many airlines have long relied on aging computer systems, and the aviation industry has been criticized for failing to modernize swiftly.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
22 July 2025
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McKinney ruffled some feathers by publicly criticizing former Giants’ defensive coordinator Wink Martindale in his final season with the Giants.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Verb
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The back-to-back performances came after Ware’s effort was admonished by coach Erik Spoelstra at a Saturday practice.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 July 2025
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He was admonished once by the judge for nodding enthusiastically toward jurors during a successful stretch of cross-examination by one of his lawyers.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Garza blamed this in part on the county’s failure to provide legal representation at bail hearings for defendants.—
Skye Seipp,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Trump has blamed India's high tariffs on imports for the trade deficit.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
30 July 2025
Verb
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That idea seemed fanciful back in late February when Trump and Vice President Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
28 July 2025
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Trump has repeatedly — and publicly — berated Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not lowering the bank’s interest rate (their recent détente notwithstanding), but the central bank is overwhelmingly expected to hold rates steady Wednesday at the conclusion of its two-day monetary policy meeting.—
Lucy Bayly,
CNN Money,
27 July 2025
Verb
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There was a doll to be fixed up and chastised with a hairbrush that was twice its length.—
Anne Enright,
New Yorker,
27 July 2025
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After the Israeli and U.S. strikes, a lead editorial in an influential newspaper founded by three clerics (including Khamenei) decades ago chastised leaders who steered Iran toward closer ties to Moscow—an unmistakable reference to Khamenei.—
Michael McFaul,
Foreign Affairs,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scold. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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