as in scolded
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
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Recent Examples of berated
Before the House Judiciary Committee in February, Bondi berated Democratic lawmakers who asked her questions about the handling of the Epstein files and other matters.
—
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The nod referred to the iconic scene from the original film in which Priestley berated her new assistant Sachs for wearing a cerulean blue sweater without knowing the history behind the item.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
In July 2025, media personality Akademiks berated TDE during one of his livestream rants for allegedly using bots to boost Doechii’s streaming numbers.
—Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 30 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit also said that when complaints were made about the harassment, they were not properly investigated and the employees were subject to retaliation, including being given double shifts, being accused of wrongdoing and being berated and yelled at by supervisors.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Some have cut off communication, walked away from him, or berated him.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
He was confronted and berated by Penelope, to whom Eurymachus then falsely gave his word that Telemachus would not be harmed.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026
Noem’s dissmissal comes after she was berated by lawmakers on Capitol Hill over a series of disastrous blunders by her department, including the killings of two American citizens by border patrol agents in Minneapolis and apparent attempts by DHS to stifle investigations into the shootings.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
One show at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts paused for a bit when the musicians were summoned to a board meeting where they were berated for their poor marketing strategies, said lead singer and guitarist Erik Sanden.
—Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Mar. 2026
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The nod referred to the iconic scene from the original film in which Priestley berated her new assistant Sachs for wearing a cerulean blue sweater without knowing the history behind the item.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
In July 2025, media personality Akademiks berated TDE during one of his livestream rants for allegedly using bots to boost Doechii’s streaming numbers.
—Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 30 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit also said that when complaints were made about the harassment, they were not properly investigated and the employees were subject to retaliation, including being given double shifts, being accused of wrongdoing and being berated and yelled at by supervisors.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Some have cut off communication, walked away from him, or berated him.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
He was confronted and berated by Penelope, to whom Eurymachus then falsely gave his word that Telemachus would not be harmed.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026
Noem’s dissmissal comes after she was berated by lawmakers on Capitol Hill over a series of disastrous blunders by her department, including the killings of two American citizens by border patrol agents in Minneapolis and apparent attempts by DHS to stifle investigations into the shootings.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
One show at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts paused for a bit when the musicians were summoned to a board meeting where they were berated for their poor marketing strategies, said lead singer and guitarist Erik Sanden.
—Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berated
Verb
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Leon scolded Justice Department attorneys for arguing that the entire project needed to go forward for national security reasons, before previously distinguishing between the bunker below ground and the ballroom above ground.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Government officials scolded young people for the signs of disrespect.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ratmoko is also a photographer, writer, and scholar who has lectured on intercultural communication schools including Yale University and the University of Zurich.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
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During orientation, new hires are lectured that Kino wants to protect users from harmful images; meanwhile, their boss, Josh (Jermaine Fowler), would cut out his own spleen on camera to keep people’s eyeballs on the app.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Additionally, Cox reprimanded CalPERS in the decision, writing that staff members acted unprofessionally throughout the hearing and failed to provide evidence supporting CalPERS’ claims.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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He got formally reprimanded by the House, thanks to a resolution introduced by a fellow Democrat, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Legal experts such as the Polish Ombudsman, which protects civil and human rights in Poland, and the UNHCR have criticized Poland's suspension of the right to asylum.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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At the time, Magyar criticized the decision as a distraction from other issues affecting citizens, and said his government would protect the right to assembly, but steered clear of an explicit statement in support of that cause.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Berated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berated. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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