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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Recent Examples of reprimanding
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
Indeed, Ye didn’t say much of anything during the two-hour concert beyond a number of reprimanding comments directed at his stage crew.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 2 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
Even the universe seems to be reprimanding Taylor, because the women coincidentally run into Jesse Palmer, the host of The Bachelorette, at brunch.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 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
To this end, Cucinelli urged the independent players to tap into the online commerce without betraying their identity of exclusivity and desirability, subtly reprimanding those who embraced the gray market outright.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Robert Lynch, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Indeed, Ye didn’t say much of anything during the two-hour concert beyond a number of reprimanding comments directed at his stage crew.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 2 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
Even the universe seems to be reprimanding Taylor, because the women coincidentally run into Jesse Palmer, the host of The Bachelorette, at brunch.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 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
To this end, Cucinelli urged the independent players to tap into the online commerce without betraying their identity of exclusivity and desirability, subtly reprimanding those who embraced the gray market outright.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprimanding
Verb
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First, as the Florida ACLU’s Howard Simon points out, Uthmeier is not scolding another branch of government.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
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Security guard Pascal Duvier, most recently infamous for allegedly scolding 11-year-old Ada Law at a hotel in São Paulo, is clearing the air.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tisch lauded her officers for taking action while admonishing the dangers of violent crime.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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The outlet reported that the mother of Jamieson’s child spoke out in court, admonishing him for the violent attack on their daughter last January.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Brown, the lone vote against Martinez’s item, said offering trainings to all councilmembers without mandating it for the mayor and not censuring him absolved Martinez of accountability.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Those choices included censuring and sanctioning me, a military veteran commissioned through CU Boulder, the only Black Regent, and the first Black woman to serve on the board in 43 years.—
Wanda James,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At Yale, where Garber began her career, Jacques Derrida was a frequent visitor, and Paul de Man might be found down the corridor solemnly lecturing on Nietzsche.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
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How do teachers carry on teaching, lecturing, checking homework and having students prepare for assessments, and how do students enjoy the pleasures that extracurricular activities bring?—
Jerald McNair,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His Instagram reels often show him criticizing the LGBTQ+ community.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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Senator Lisa Murkowski, that Republican of Alaska, who's one of the more notable folks up here on the Hill on the GOP side about criticizing the war in Iran, has floated in conversations with reporters in the hallway here the possibility of drawing up an AUMF and putting it up for a vote.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The Sarnecki and Masterson campaigns both provided statements to The Star condemning 7-OH and kratom as dangerous and praising lawmakers for taking action to criminalize the substances.—
Matthew Kelly
May 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
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On Wednesday, Congressmen Josh Gottheimer and Mike Lawler introduced a bipartisan House resolution condemning the antisemitic rhetoric of Hasan Piker on the far left and Candace Owens on the far right.—
Alma Hernandez,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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But Emirati officials had threatened for years to leave, blaming Opec’s production quotas for unfairly curtailing its oil exports.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
30 Apr. 2026
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In 2013, Hall tried (and failed) to replicate the previous magic and his show was cancelled after one season, many blaming tougher competition than before.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both Mexico City and Guadalajara are preparing to host World Cup games in June, with protesters in both cities denouncing the government's failure to properly investigate the disappearances.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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The pope has been outspoken against the Middle East conflict, urging peace and denouncing attacks on civilians.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reprimanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprimanding. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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