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scold

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb scold differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scold are berate, rail, revile, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When would berate be a good substitute for scold?

The meanings of berate and scold largely overlap; however, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When can rail be used instead of scold?

The words rail and scold are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When is revile a more appropriate choice than scold?

The synonyms revile and scold are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When could upbraid be used to replace scold?

While the synonyms upbraid and scold are close in meaning, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

Where would vituperate be a reasonable alternative to scold?

While in some cases nearly identical to scold, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scold
Verb
Typically, the argument goes that all Trump’s lying and disinformation, met with righteous scolding from liberals, has led to mass desensitization, over everything from Trump’s thirty-four felony convictions to his racist rhetoric. Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025 Phillips remembered the aftermath of a particularly severe scolding from the director, after the actor suggested playing a humorous moment less overtly comedic. Elon Green, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
When Roger Goodell suspended Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for at least one full season for betting on NFL games, the commissioner was very careful with the wording of his official scold. Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2022 Bozell, who plays a media scold on television, has written a book that despite its subtitle is neither dogmatic nor even thematic. Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 6 Jan. 2022 See All Example Sentences for scold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scold
Verb
  • Logical consistency would require these legislators to reprimand PURA’s rigid approach and call for more regulatory flexibility so utilities can invest proactively in essential cybersecurity measures.
    Brian Harrell, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025
  • As John Cena and The Rock's Third Man WWE Could Steal Away Top AEW Star: Report Strickland recounted a meeting with Vince McMahon, where the group was reprimanded for a member's aggressive phone call to a WWE office employee regarding B-Fab's flight details.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Boutros has also lectured at the University of Chicago Law School since 2011 and published two books on white-collar law.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
  • For decades, Washington lectured Beijing about avoiding protectionism, eliminating barriers to foreign investment, and disciplining the use of subsidies and industrial policy—with only modest success.
    Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Professors of cultural studies, or history, or the arts, have long seen themselves as critics of institutions, including the universities that employ them.
    Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The show was a hit, both with both audiences and critics, winning 22 Emmys over the course of its run.
    EW.com, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In a 1907 essay, the writer Ito Sakon criticized the idea of escaping the hot urban summer, instead presenting the heat as an opportunity for self-improvement.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Many people — including celebrity moms like Allison Kuch and fellow SYTYCD alum Witney Carson — have taken to the brand's Instagram comments section to criticize Happiest Baby.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For the past several years, clips from the show have circulated on TikTok and X—with certain viewers admonishing Banks for some of her views about the modeling industry.
    Essence, Essence, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The judge also admonished state officials for refusing to make the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol publicly available.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Usually that takes the form of falsely blaming Israel for all Palestinian woes instead of recognizing Hamas's strategy of profiting off death, whether Israeli or Palestinian.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
  • President Donald Trump repeatedly tried to blame water issues and the Los Angeles fires on the Newsom administration’s management of Delta water supplies.
    CalMatters, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This visit ended with Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating the Ukrainian leader in front of the world's media.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Vance berated Zelenskyy for not being thankful for the support the U.S. has provided Ukraine.
    Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Last month, Trump signed a similar memorandum regarding Perkins Coie LLP, who Trump chastised for representation of clients connected to the 2016 presidential campaign and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Following her frank interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pompeo faced some backlash from critics chastising her for talking so openly about her salary.
    Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scold. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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