reprimanding

verb

present participle of reprimand
1
as in scolding
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings reprimanded the summer intern for her constant tardiness

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2
as in admonishing
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault reprimanded the student for using the lax grammar and punctuation of text messaging in a term paper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in censuring
to express public or formal disapproval of the president was forced to reprimand the general for publicly voicing his disagreements with the nation's foreign policy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reprimanding The audience awkwardly chuckles, and Scovel, eyes still closed, begins reprimanding them. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 Her Volumnia bellows at her meek daughter-in-law, Virgilia (Justine Faith) as though reprimanding an incompetent private. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Earlier this week, Scott Agness claimed his press credentials were revoked by the team after his reporting led to the WNBA reprimanding the Fever for not being transparent about Clark’s health status during a game on May 20. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026 Hart was reprimanding Ross for doing what is the most offensive thing a comedian can do — suck up to the most important person in the room — and enforcing an old ethic in comedy, which is not apologizing for your jokes. — Robert Lynch, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 In footage that circulated on social media after Sunday's telecast, the 35-year-old Best Supporting Actress nominee and recording artist was shown reprimanding someone off camera while others stepped between them. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026 Still, don’t discount the power of comforting or reprimanding statements, because both are necessary in their own ways. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026 Censures, a means of formally reprimanding a lawmaker without going so far as to expel them, have historically been rare; in the 200 years after Congress first convened, only 22 House members were censured. — Connor Greene, Time, 21 Nov. 2025 When conversation veers into controversial territory, Gott suggests redirecting rather than reprimanding. — Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprimanding
  1. scolding
  2. admonishing
  3. censuring
  4. lecturing
  5. criticizing
  6. condemning
  7. blaming
  8. denouncing
Verb
  • Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than scolding parents about screens, society could do more to support families in ways that obviate the need for screen time.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of scolding
Verb
  • Davis was much more somber, and his attorney, Wayne Higgins, is heard frequently admonishing his client for volunteering unnecessary information.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Regardless, this issue could have resolved if the Giants had issued a statement straight away either defending their players’ First Amendment right to express their views or admonishing them for violating the term of the CBA.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of admonishing
Verb
  • Two Republicans voted against censuring Edwards, despite the recommendation.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The City Council, which is considering censuring the mayor, asked for assistance because the city’s Human Resources director wasn’t available at the time, according to Mayor Pro Tem Tara Graves.
    — Elijah Megginson, AJC.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of censuring
Verb
  • Approaching hesitant individuals Health experts said that addressing vaccine-hesitant people starts with listening rather than lecturing.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Today, young people are increasingly frustrated with the hypocrisy of politicians lecturing them about the virtues of voting while in practice facilitating disengagement.
    — David Neil, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of lecturing
Verb
  • Republican lawmaker Carl DeMaio of San Diego has vocalized his opposition in discussions of the bill, criticizing the idea of providing funding to outlets that make political endorsements.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Yiannopoulos rose to prominence through his provocative statements criticizing political correctness, feminism and Islam.
    — Chris Arnold, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of criticizing
Verb
  • Public monuments condemning slavery have been removed, and Confederate names have been restored to Army bases.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But the dispute quickly escalated into a reputational crisis for the biennale, with artists from Taiwan and China condemning the name change as a betrayal of its founding ideals.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of condemning
Verb
  • Vucic last week accused the West and The Hague tribunal of blaming only Serbs for the crimes and bringing no justice for the Serb victims.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Heaping credit onto Espada is dangerous, but so is blaming him for every game that goes awry.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of blaming
Verb
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was blindsided on Tuesday when two members of his caucus voted with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to put a resolution denouncing socialism on the floor for a full vote.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
  • And other Democrats, especially those from Coupang’s home state, Washington, have joined their Republican colleagues in denouncing South Korea’s posture toward the company.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of denouncing

Browse Nearby Words

reprimanded
reprimanding
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Cite this Entry

“Reprimanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprimanding. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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