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Synonyms

earful

American  
[eer-fool] / ˈɪərˌfʊl /

noun

plural

earfuls

  1. an outpouring of oral information or advice, especially when given without solicitation.

  2. a sharp verbal rebuke; a scolding.

earful British  
/ ˈɪəfʊl /

noun

  1. something heard or overheard

  2. a rebuke or scolding, esp a lengthy or severe one

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Spelling

See -ful.

Etymology

Origin of earful

First recorded in 1915–20; ear 1 + -ful

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.

“I’m sure he’s getting an earful right now of oil prices and people getting really concerned again.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“I had to go through it that way. … My parents were both mad. That was weeks of earfuls: ‘Man, what are you doing?’

From Los Angeles Times

Usually, when Aunt Hila got mad, she gave him an earful.

From Literature

Either way, the state Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Zone 0 Advisory Committee will likely get an earful of comments during its public meeting Thursday at the Pasadena Convention Center.

From Los Angeles Times

Executives at Texas Roadhouse got an earful about the pending shortage during October meetings with restaurant managers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.