lecturing

verb

present participle of lecture
1
as in scolding
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings the frustrated manager lectured the waitstaff about its poor level of service

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in speaking
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

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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 lecturing 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 Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon criticized Spain for lecturing Israel on security while struggling to control its own border. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 Fauci stepped down from his NIAID post at the end of 2022 and segued to a lecturing job at Georgetown. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2026 He was internationally known as an expert on the work of William Faulkner, teaching and lecturing around the world on the Nobel Prize winner. — Rebecca McCarthy, AJC.com, 13 July 2026 The film begins with a montage of young Roma women, each shot as though for a studio portrait, impassively absorbing an offscreen voice lecturing them about family planning. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 11 July 2026 If and until that day comes, there will be fingerpointing, lecturing and posturing, all of which has flowed freely in the wake of the Sorsby decision. — ABC News, 10 June 2026 One can scarcely imagine Davis agreeing to a management interview with Forbes or lecturing executives about organizational leadership. — Bill Fischer, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lecturing
  1. scolding
  2. speaking
  3. reprimanding
  4. talking
  5. criticizing
Verb
  • 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
  • Do not punish your dog by scolding or yelling at them, as this may make your dog's behavior worse out of fear or stress.
    — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 28 July 2026
Definition of scolding
Verb
  • Billie is, broadly speaking, the most desperate character on Adults.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Sheriff Rosie Cordero Stutz said many of the board members were elderly, primarily Spanish-speaking volunteers who investigators believe did not realize what was happening.
    — Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of speaking
Verb
  • 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
Definition of reprimanding
Verb
  • When families of the Lincoln’s sailors started talking with reporters, their complaints were met with contempt from the top.
    — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Taken with each other, Celine agrees to continue talking with Jesse in Vienna before his morning flight.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of talking
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

Browse Nearby Words

lectures
lecturing
led
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Cite this Entry

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

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