jaw 1 of 2

noun

ˈjȯ How to pronounce jaw (audio)
Definition of jawnext
as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this now that he's retired, he's got all afternoon for a jaw with his friends at the senior center

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jaw

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings you don't have to jaw me to death just because I bite my nails

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation just a group of girls sitting around the locker room and jawing about the usual stuff

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 jaw
Noun
His two assists for Bradley Barcola and Mbappe were jaw-droppingly good, and his scissor kick came within the width of a post of giving him the goal of the tournament. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Snagging this portable monitor is a no-brainer—especially with this jaw-dropping $162 discount! — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026
Verb
Carolina tough guy Nic Deslauriers jawed at Zadorov on the bench and appeared to be asking for a date at a later time in the game. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026 Robinson and Daniels continued jawing at each other, repeatedly trying to get face-to-face as coaches and officials worked to calm them down. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for jaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jaw
  1. chat
  2. scold
  3. talk
  4. chatter
  5. lecture
  6. converse
  7. table talk
  8. reprimand
Noun
  • The association has sent emails in recent months reminding residents not to violate the clause, including in group chats.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • Executive coffee chats create low-barrier access to decision-makers.
    — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of chat
Verb
  • Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Justice Barrett actually sounded kind of sharp, almost scolding, in the opinion in her criticism of the assertions made by the plaintiffs and some of the justices in the minority.
    — John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 1 July 2026
Definition of scold
Verb
  • Before assuming the new borrowing limits apply to you, talk with your financial aid office.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Above, her mother’s brother, Abdullahi Mohamed, cradled a cup of tea in his hands and talked to her parents about their Central Avenue community, the news of the day and the global events that dominated the early 2000s.
    — Julia Coin Updated July 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
Definition of talk
Noun
  • Emmys season is about ot begin, and with it, a slew of contenders destined for nominations and memorialization by way of snubs chatter.
    — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
  • There is a lot of chatter out there on the interwebs about who will and won’t be in the house for Big Brother season 28.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Definition of chatter
Verb
  • Some commentators in the United States have taken the opportunity to lecture Europeans, and perhaps even indulge in a little schadenfreude.
    — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • The work, then, is not to lecture communities into trusting us.
    — Tyler Evans, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Definition of lecture
Verb
  • The series will feature Questlove and three guests playing a variety of games from Uno to Jenga to original Questlove creations, all while conversing about their lives and careers.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 2 July 2026
  • The bank hopes to train the AI to eventually converse in Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesia, and Bahasa Melayu.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Definition of converse
Noun
  • When the table talk turns political, Hagains suggests shifting your approach instead of your mood.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Nov. 2025
  • Each monthly box includes three recipe guides, skill lessons, a kitchen tool, a kitchen project, an apron patch, table talk cards, and a grocery list.
    — Jessica Booth, Parents, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of table talk
Verb
  • 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
  • Wimbledon fashion is also something that can get patrons in trouble, with Andy Samberg saying he was reprimanded for wearing black jeans in the Royal Box.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of reprimand

Browse Nearby Words

javelins
jaw
jaw-dropper
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jaw. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on jaw

Nglish: Translation of jaw for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jaw

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