How to Use scolding in a Sentence

scolding

noun
  • The scolding was met with more meows and barks.
    — Clara McMichael, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Can’t take any more of those social media scoldings from Kyrie.
    — Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 5 June 2023
  • No sideline coaching or scolding, and watch your body language.
    — Jackie Pilossoph, chicagotribune.com, 13 July 2017
  • The look is more likely worry about whatever scolding might come their way.
    — Steve Meyer, Alaska Dispatch News, 20 Sep. 2017
  • Flies did not follow me, but someone’s gaze did, leading to a lengthy scolding from my mother.
    — Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
  • The burnout literature will tell you that this, too—the guilt, the self-scolding—is a feature of burnout.
    — Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 17 May 2021
  • Whole gangs of crows followed the evildoer, scolding and dive-bombing.
    — Kale Williams, OregonLive.com, 7 Feb. 2018
  • If your pet howls just to get your attention, don’t give it — no eye contact, no touch, no speaking and no scolding.
    — Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Prince Harry joined in on the fun and gave the toddler a mock scolding by wagging his finger at him.
    — Erin Hill, PEOPLE.com, 11 July 2018
  • The non-church going hunter got his rights back as well — after a thorough scolding about staying out of trouble.
    — Scott Maxwell, OrlandoSentinel.com, 11 July 2018
  • But what does the research have to say about the mild, low-level scolding and nagging that so many parents engage in?
    — Jacob Towery, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2020
  • Even with Roberts' scolding still fresh, many senators were in no mood for rules or traditions.
    — Laurie Kellman, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2020
  • The sister doesn't need reminders to quit, information on how or scolding.
    — cleveland, 12 Oct. 2019
  • The film resists the way that it will be read by many people, which is as a scolding parable of marginalization and decline.
    — Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 7 June 2019
  • To make matters worse, the scolding can also come from within our own community.
    — Ni’kesia Pannell, Teen Vogue, 12 July 2017
  • Lately, the scold has been ascendant, and some tech companies deserve a scolding and worse.
    — Owen Thomas, SFChronicle.com, 3 July 2019
  • Then there’s Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, who in the eyes of some scolding observers can do no right.
    — Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2019
  • The scolding, cartoonish parents of his novels were pure fiction.
    — Douglas Perry, OregonLive.com, 23 May 2018
  • Thus Walz’ suspension amounts to a symbolic scolding but not a setback.
    — Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 26 May 2018
  • After years of scolding, Wall finally scaled back his reliance on long twos and took more pride in parading to the free-throw line.
    — Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney, SI.com, 13 Sep. 2017
  • Taking advantage of such a moment to attack is still considered bad form, and can result in a scolding on wheels.
    — Michael Powell, New York Times, 25 July 2019
  • After the ceremony, George left the church in tears, after receiving a stern scolding from his mom.
    — Rose Minutaglio, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 Apr. 2018
  • My mother pleaded with us not to respond to the scolding for fear that backtalk would escalate the situation.
    — Hector De Leon, Houston Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2018
  • Women who sunbathe topless in Ocean City used to get a scolding from beach patrol officers, but that has changed.
    — baltimoresun.com, 8 June 2017
  • His sister, Dot, joins in the scolding of the entertainment industry.
    — Dave Itzkoff, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2020
  • The minister of foreign affairs summoned the ambassador for a scolding.
    — New York Times, 12 July 2018
  • The episode stemmed from his real-life childhood memory of trying bacon at a friend’s house and receiving a scolding from his mother over the phone.
    — Lonnie Firestone, VanityFair.com, 7 June 2017
  • His brother and caddie, Tim, pulled Phil Mickelson aside after the sixth hole and gave him a mild scolding.
    — New York Times, 23 May 2021
  • The shrieks of the offender, likely a female, grew louder and more desperate as the scolding continued.
    — Gina Decaprio Vercesi, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2021
  • Iran is used to America trying to drag it by the ears before the United Nations for a sound scolding.
    — Adam Rawnsley, WIRED, 9 Dec. 2011

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scolding.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: