rail

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