dressing-down

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.

Some of those present left unhappy with the message and what they took as a dressing-down, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

This is a historic dressing-down of somebody who thought they were made of Teflon.

From Slate • Jan. 23, 2026

In a recent dressing-down of Bezos in the Atlantic, former Post executive editor Martin Baron, once a fan, wrote: “Now we know Bezos is no Katharine Graham.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2025

“He says, ‘You’re not welcome here,’” Ms. Pollini said, crying as she recalled the intensity of his dressing-down.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2024

I even had one hazy fantasy where Miss Geraldine herself heard about it and gave Ruth a complete dressing-down in front of everyone.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro