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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

As potential intermingling threatened this segregation, a white sergeant started berating the Black troops who already had their trays, shouting at them to dump their food and clear the room. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

The next day, after Trump berated Republicans for allowing the measure to pass, the Senate rejected a nearly identical resolution, but the earlier rebuke was unmistakable. — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026

His tenure came to an end when video surfaced of a drunken Galliano berating other customers at a Paris bar with vile antisemitic insults. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2026

Obumseli chronicled their arguments in a series of recordings, which caught Clenney angrily screaming, berating and cursing him out using racist slurs. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!