tongue-lashing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The New York federal district court judge gave Doyle a tongue-lashing and sentenced him to six years in prison, twice the time stipulated in his plea bargain, citing his record that included 11 convictions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Well, he’s apparently been chatting with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the whole matter, and he’s invited TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew—once the subject of a bipartisan tongue-lashing in Congress—to attend his Monday inauguration.

From Slate • Jan. 17, 2025

It may even be accompanied by a tongue-lashing of the former president.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2023

Meadows claimed he then sent an email pushing the campaign to assemble pro-Trump slates of electors largely because he feared a tongue-lashing from his boss.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2023

When I said it, I braced myself for the quick, sharp tongue-lashing that I usually served up whenever somebody tried me.

From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds