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

For decades, Zinn traveled the country lecturing to packed auditoriums. — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026 The following May, Rogers accepted an invitation from Lee to lecture at two universities in China. — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Noun

In fact, the very week our paper was accepted, a leading expert gave a lecture stating that everyone knew T cells could not be grown in culture. — Robert C. Gallo, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026 But the material provides him with plenty of legitimate reasons to be pissed, and the movie is never at risk of becoming a pedantic lecture. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lecture

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lecture

Verb

But leaders seeking to encourage tourism scolded residents who warned of the danger on social media.

— Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
From behind a tree, Neil and Florence observed Brenda scolding little Neil.

— S. M. Reznik, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of scold

Verb

Artificial intelligence needs as little as three seconds of you speaking to produce a convincing clone of your voice.

— Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Under Sorrells, morale at the office is bleak and has resulted in an exodus, according to two veteran prosecutors who left the office and spoke on the condition they not be identified.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of speak

Noun

His apocalyptic sermons taught that his followers and their children should starve themselves to death to get into heaven before the end of the world, per Reuters.

— Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026
Bakker offered upbeat sermons and Tammy Faye, charismatic and always wearing her trademark heavy mascara, sang.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of sermon

Verb

Mandell was later formally reprimanded for allowing another client’s hearing to be delayed by six years, during which time two witnesses died.

— Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026
The Denver school board censured director Monica Hunter on Thursday night, the third time in five years that the governing body of Colorado’s largest K-12 district has publicly reprimanded a colleague.

— Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of reprimand

Verb

Publicly, Pacific Fusion talks mostly about its future ability to supply electricity, a promise the fusion industry has made for years.

— Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The 6,200-square-foot venue spans two levels and features a 700-square-foot dry sauna, an infrared sauna and a 46-degree cold plunge, with dim communal areas built in to encourage guests to linger and talk.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of talk

Noun

That circumspection is the result of some hard lessons from a century of booms and busts.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
After a brief safety lesson on navigating the course and its cables, participants can ride a zip line into the park, gliding 60 feet above the quarry floor at speeds exceeding 30 mph.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of lesson

Verb

That set off the wave of youth protests that blamed the collapse on high-level corruption and cronyism during renovation work at the station.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Anything this pair does for the next several months that is not together will be scrutinized, dissected, interpreted, and ESPN can only blame itself.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of blame

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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lecture

verb

noun

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