Synonyms of upbraid

upbraid

verb

ˌəp-ˈbrād 

as in to scold

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

his wife upbraided him for his irresponsible handling of the family finances

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• endorse
• sanction
• praise
• extol
• laud

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb upbraid differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of upbraid are berate, rail, revile, scold, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

When might berate be a better fit than upbraid?

Although the words berate and upbraid have much in common, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When would rail be a good substitute for upbraid?

The words rail and upbraid can be used in similar contexts, but rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

Where would revile be a reasonable alternative to upbraid?

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

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When is it sensible to use scold instead of upbraid?

While in some cases nearly identical to upbraid, scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When can vituperate be used instead of upbraid?

The words vituperate and upbraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of upbraid

Immediately, Firesign’s Phil Austin (Nick Danger) and Peter Bergman (Lt. Bradshaw) stopped the show, stormed off the stage, rushed to where I was seated in the middle of the venue, and upbraided me for stealing Austin’s line. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

At a hearing two days after the government dropped its charges against Baraka, the judge upbraided Stephen Demanovich, a federal prosecutor who had been assigned the case. —Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026

In a blistering memo circulated around the agency before he was laid off in late summer, Frantz upbraided political leaders. —Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 17 Dec. 2025

During cross-examination, he was upbraided for long answers that did not immediately answer the question he had been asked. —Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025

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