earful
Americannoun
-
an outpouring of oral information or advice, especially when given without solicitation.
-
a sharp verbal rebuke; a scolding.
noun
-
something heard or overheard
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a rebuke or scolding, esp a lengthy or severe one
Spelling
See -ful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of earful
Explanation
When you give someone an earful, you angrily tell the person what you think. Your teacher might give the class an earful when no one has finished yesterday's homework. The informal word earful is good for describing a lengthy reprimand or angry criticism. A furious senator might give her colleagues an earful when they can't reach a compromise, and a frustrated father might give his kids an earful after losing track of them in a busy shopping mall. Earful was first used in the mid-1900's, from the Old English roots eare, or "ear," and the suffix ful, "full or full of."
Vocabulary lists containing earful
Front Desk
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Amari and the Night Brothers
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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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.
But while that old post is still up, Ogles deleted the more recent post after getting an earful from other GOP members and leadership.
From Slate • Jun. 6, 2026
“I’m sure he’s getting an earful right now of oil prices and people getting really concerned again.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
Atkins remains optimistic about her adopted home state, notwithstanding her unsuccessful run for governor and the earful of criticisms she heard along the way,
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025
Border Patrol cops loitered on the sidewalks of a popular nightlife strip, where they got an earful from a passerby in a pink pointelle shirt.
From Slate • Aug. 13, 2025
At Miss Leefolt's, they’s lots a extra talking on the telephone that week, lot a head-nodding like Miss Leefolt getting a earful from Miss Hilly.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
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.
