scold

1 of 3

verb

ˈskōld 

scolded; scolding; scolds

transitive verb

: to censure usually severely or angrily : rebuke

intransitive verb

1

: to find fault noisily or angrily

2

obsolete : to quarrel noisily

scolder noun

scold

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

a

: one who scolds habitually or persistently

b

dated, sometimes offensive : a woman who disturbs the public peace by noisy and quarrelsome or abusive behavior

2

: scolding

scolder

3 of 3

noun (2)

scold·​er

ˈskōldə(r)

plural -s

: one who scolds

Synonyms of scold

Verb

• reprimand
• lecture
• criticize
• blame
• admonish
• berate
• chastise

Choose the Right Synonym for scold

scold, upbraid, berate, rail, revile, vituperate mean to reproach angrily and abusively.

scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Examples of scold in a Sentence

Verb

“You should never have done that,” she scolded.

he scolded the kids for not cleaning up the mess they had made in the kitchen

Noun (1)

He can be a bit of a scold sometimes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Justice Barrett actually sounded kind of sharp, almost scolding, in the opinion in her criticism of the assertions made by the plaintiffs and some of the justices in the minority. — John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 1 July 2026

Noun

In lesser hands, such a hero could be an insufferable scold, or alienating chaos agent. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

After trying out a shot in the fourth episode in which Kim smiled, barely perceptibly, while watching Jimmy pull off a stunt, the creators settled into the idea that her character wasn’t a scold but was turned on by Jimmy’s shenanigans — and could be a surprising and active ally. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English scald, scold, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skāld poet, skald, Icelandic skālda to make scurrilous verse

Noun (2)

Middle English, from scolden to scold + -er

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun (1)

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for scold

• bold
• bowled
• cold
• doled
• foaled
• fold
• gold
• hold
• holed
• mould
• old
• poled

Kids Definition

scold

1 of 2 noun

ˈskōld 

: a person who scolds constantly

scold

2 of 2 verb

1

: to find fault noisily or angrily

2

: to criticize severely or angrily