LECTURE Synonyms: 133 Similar and Opposite Words

lecture 1 of 2

verb

Definition of lecture

as in to scold

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings the frustrated manager lectured the waitstaff about its poor level of service

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to speak

to give a formal often extended talk on a subject a physician who has lectured before countless audiences on the importance of diet and exercise in avoiding heart disease

Synonyms & Similar Words

lecture

2 of 2

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 lecture

Verb

This is not the time to lecture or disengage, but to get curious and reengage. — Chuka Onuh, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Nike needs to get back to making products people want to buy, not finding new ways to lecture them. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Noun

Asking about being alone with a Haitian, for instance, prompted a quick lecture on resisting the forces of prejudice. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026 But Wolff says the food patterns children see at home tend to stick, which is why parents modeling nutritious choices can carry more weight than any lecture. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lecture

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lecture

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
In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of scold

Verb

Officers spoke with Cisneros for about four minutes, repeatedly ordering her to drop the knives, according to Tisch.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Bawahab, as well as community leaders and former employees, addressed the crowd with Bawahab speaking about Insight’s potential role in reopening West Suburban.

— Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of speak

Verb

Judge William Sullivan declined to declare a mistrial but sharply reprimanded the prosecution and told the jury to disregard Heilbrun’s statements on Clancy’s faith.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit says the officer was reprimanded and removed from further field training of Wadell.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of reprimand

Verb

Fleming by body camera footage, approached Parker, who was talking on his cellphone.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
Maybe a family watches a favorite performer together, while nearby strangers start talking because someone forgot sunscreen and their friend packed enough for six people.

— Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of talk

Noun

This was the first life lesson Dolly Parton delivered in her earliest appearance on Hannah Montana as the ebullient Aunt Dolly.

— Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
In fact, one lesson of these novels seemed to be that American girls were loveable in much the same way that America’s past was—as an ideal.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of lesson

Verb

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
That war ended in a humiliating defeat by an enemy regarded as much weaker, and many tsarist officials blamed the outcome on Japanese spies and saboteurs.

— Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of blame

Noun

The Federal Reserve’s new chairman, Kevin Warsh, is set to deliver a speech Friday at an annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the backdrop for past policy announcements.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
With the acclaim came the awards, the invitations to give commencement speeches, the honorary degrees, the chance to perform before thousands of fans at big-time sports events.

— Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of speech

Browse Nearby Words

lectors

lecture

lectured

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Lecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lecture. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lecture

verb

noun

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