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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
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
Noun
The estranged wife of actor Scott Wolf was seemingly detained by law enforcement during an Instagram livestream, during which she can be heard scolding officers and alleging she was abused. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025 One of them, Link (Chris Carmack), scolds his partner Jo (Camilla Luddington) for getting annoyed, since the protesters are fighting for a worthy cause. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for scold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scold
Verb
  • That brief timeline likely means that Combs — who has been reprimanded by Judge Arun Subramanian for nodding at jurors while his defense attorneys cross-examine government witnesses — will not take the stand.
    Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR, 24 June 2025
  • But Pitt later said in an interview with GQ in 2024 that Alcoholics Anonymous reprimanded him for talking about his experience with the group publicly.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Nonetheless, the missing performers were lectured by Richard Grenell, Trump’s new president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—a man with, inevitably, no experience in any of them—that performers must perform for people of all political parties.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
  • At the Cooper Union in New York in November, Sumner again lectured on Adams’s theory, while a group of Republicans and radical abolitionists sat behind his podium on the stage.
    Zaakir Tameez June 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
Noun
  • Rising waters and overtourism are killing Venice, critics say, a city where the 30 million tourists annually dwarf the local population of fewer than 50,000.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
  • However, Trump’s take on business — relying on a host of ventures built to maximize quick profits — is far grander than his minimalist views on national economics, which critics view as bordering on severe.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • At a time when establishing clarity of first principles has never been more urgent, UF’s law school practically dared anyone to criticize the award for whitewashing the Constitution.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
  • Mamdani joined her for a sarcastic infomercial on her account, criticizing Mayor Adams’ record.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • But the report, through analysis provided by third-party law enforcement experts, admonished the tactics and actions surrounding the shooting.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
  • Lucas admonished employers to review their DEI policies and eliminate those that may violate Title VII’s ban on discrimination against majority and minority employees alike.
    Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Partly to blame is high inflation, claimed Bankrate, which has increased by about 24% since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 24 June 2025
  • The lawsuit alleges the Tesla’s design was to blame for the car swerving out of its lane and not braking correctly, according to Reuters.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Just hours before Powell’s comments, President Donald Trump again berated his decision to hold steady on interest rates.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 June 2025
  • Trump has threatened the sovereignty of allies and publicly berated their leaders, all while lavishing praise on the dictators and thugs who threaten them.
    KORI SCHAKE, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Musk and Gor reportedly clashed in recent months, including at Cabinet meetings where Musk chastised Gor over personnel disagreements.
    Brett Samuels, The Hill, 19 June 2025
  • One of the most memorable scenes from You've Got Mail features Kathleen (Ryan) chastising Joe (Tom Hanks) for hoarding all of the caviar instead of using it as a garnish.
    Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 14 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scold. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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