Synonyms of rail

rail 1 of 2

noun

ˈrāl 

1

as in railing

a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports

the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail

Synonyms & Similar Words

• railing
• bannister
• balustrade
• guardrail
• banister
• fender
• handrail
• taffrail

2

as in road

a roadway overlaid with parallel steel rails over which trains travel

an abandoned stretch of rail that was overgrown with brush

Synonyms & Similar Words

• road
• railroad
• railway
• elevated
• el
• elevated railroad
• monorail

rail

2 of 2

verb

as in to rant

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rant
• fulminate
• revile
• damn
• execrate
• cuss
• imprecate
• swear
• curse
• blaspheme
• anathematize
• confound

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rail differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rail are berate, revile, scold, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When could berate be used to replace rail?

In some situations, the words berate and rail are roughly equivalent. However, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When is it sensible to use revile instead of rail?

While the synonyms revile and rail are close in meaning, revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When is scold a more appropriate choice than rail?

The words scold and rail can be used in similar contexts, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When would upbraid be a good substitute for rail?

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

upbraided her assistants for poor research

In what contexts can vituperate take the place of rail?

The synonyms vituperate and rail are sometimes interchangeable, but vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rail

Noun

Diesel trains could be used, but that wouldn’t test the rail line at the maximum authorized speed for electric rail cars, Noland said. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

Players can use new items, like an ice flower to freeze enemies and a mega mushroom to grow and squish them, grind on rails, defy gravity by wall-jumping and turn their karts into boats or airplanes. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025

Verb

The New Jersey Democrat has spent more than 20 hours railing against President Donald Trump and Republicans on the Senate floor, channeling Democratic frustrations over the current administration. —Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

While at the lectern, Booker has railed against the Trump administration's and Republican lawmakers' attacks on federal agencies and programs, including potential cuts to Medicaid. —Avery Lotz, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025

Phrases Containing rail

• rail (at or against)