Synonyms of berate

berate

verb

bi-ˈrāt 

as in to scold

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

there's no need to berate someone for making a mistake during the first day on the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scold
• reprimand
• lecture
• criticize
• blame
• lambast
• chastise
• admonish
• upbraid
• castigate
• lambaste
• rag
• flay
• rail (at or against)
• rebuke
• call down
• mock
• ream (out)
• fault
• attack
• chide
• chew out
• dress down
• jaw
• reproach
• rant (at)
• bawl out
• lay into
• read the riot act (to)
• baste
• keelhaul
• rate
• hammer
• score
• condemn
• diss
• denounce
• excoriate
• crucify
• revile
• disparage
• take to task
• assail
• belittle
• slam
• harangue
• tongue-lash
• remonstrate (with)
• knock
• reprove
• lash
• bad-mouth
• ridicule
• reprehend
• scoff
• censure
• abuse
• vituperate
• pan
• scorn
• blast
• lace (into)
• scourge
• dis
• put down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• endorse
• indorse
• sanction
• extol
• praise
• laud
• extoll

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb berate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of berate are rail, revile, scold, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When is rail a more appropriate choice than berate?

While in some cases nearly identical to berate, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

Where would revile be a reasonable alternative to berate?

In some situations, the words revile and berate are roughly equivalent. However, revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When could scold be used to replace berate?

The synonyms scold and berate are sometimes interchangeable, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When can upbraid be used instead of berate?

The words upbraid and berate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

When would vituperate be a good substitute for berate?

The meanings of vituperate and berate largely overlap; however, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of berate

Then there was the Nazi commander who reportedly berated a crew of Hooligan sailors directly, telling them to go home and stop playing soldier. —David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025

The premise was loosely inspired by Lee’s own Los Angeles road rage incident years ago, when a man aggressively berated him for not hitting the gas pedal soon enough after the stop light turned green. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 31 Jan. 2025

After Chloe calls him out, Tyler starts to berate her. —Keith Langston, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025

Eagles fans have garnered negative national attention in recent weeks after one of their own, New Jersey man Ryan Caldwell, was seen in a viral video verbally berating a woman with vulgur slurs during the team's first playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 12. —Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!