as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
the drill sergeant tongue-lashed the recruits with a colorful litany of foulmouthed invectives
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Recent Examples of tongue-lash
Spencer died Sunday at his home in Palm Desert, according to his daughter, Karen.
Spencer once dreamed of coaching big-time college football and his blunt, salty style could have served him well barking orders from the sideline or delivering a tongue-lashing locker-room speech.
—
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-lash
Verb
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However, the voice resembling Smith Sr.’s goes silent for the remainder of the phone call, as Martinez continues to scold him for his actions.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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Shakira storms off Miami nightclub stage after appearing to scold clubgoer for filming up her dress The title of the tour is taken from the singer's 12th studio album, released last year and the first since 2017's El Dorado.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Tristan is doing a surprisingly good job at lecturing the Royal Army Veterinary Corps soldiers about taking care of mules and the like.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2025
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The hostages forum described Moses as an expert agronomist who lectured on agriculture and helped maintain the kibbutz’s community vegetable garden.—
ASSOCIATED PRESS,
TIME,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Trump and Vance reprimanded Zelensky, accusing him of lacking gratitude for U.S. aid.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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Police had stern words for one teenager caught surfing and four others were also reprimanded for putting themselves and others in danger.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Democratic establishment’s focus on blaming Trump for those price spikes represents a stark break from its activists, who have launched a protest movement arguing that Trump is a budding dictator with no regard for the Constitution.—
Steve Peoples,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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Recently, however, doctors have started reporting more cases of iodine-deficient hypothyroidism—and our salt preferences may be at least partially to blame.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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New York Mayor Eric Adams was facing a criminal corruption case until it was suspended in February by President Trump's Justice Department, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was criticized over her handling of the wildfires which struck the city in January.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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Hackman was praised for his acting but the movie was fiercely criticized for appearing to whitewash history and marginalize Black characters.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC News,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Trail Cams Go To War Trail Cams could be used like the sensors in Igloo White, to call down attacks on logistics vehicles by FPV drones.—
David Hambling,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
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This ranges from being able to call down lightning strikes, to conjuring twisters, to freezing foes solid with sub-zero temperatures.—
Griff Griffin,
Newsweek,
9 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tongue-lash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue-lash. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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