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

The president berated the journalist on Sunday during a live interview on CNN. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026

But the real anger belongs to the narrator herself, who berates herself for bringing a succession of troubled men into her son’s life. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2026

The president was berating the four people that voted for the War Powers Act. — CBS News, 28 June 2026

After coming under fire for publicly berating a TV journalist on social media, Paget Brewster has deleted the damning post and apologized. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 June 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!