# scolding vs scouring

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### scolding
*noun · IPA /ˈskoʊldɪŋ/ · frequency rank #35,500*
An unloving succession of critical remarks, such as those directed by a parent towards a misbehaving child; an earful; dressing down.

### scouring
*noun · IPA /ˈskaʊə.ɹɪŋ/ · frequency rank #29,452*
The act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush, soap and water.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scolding-vs-scouring