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
Prosecutors said the victim was constantly yelled at, berated and not allowed to go outside unattended.
—
Tim Fang, CBS News, 1 June 2026
After a nearfall, Becky got in Jessika Carr’s face and berated her.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Refugee advocacy organizations berated the new emergency order.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 26 May 2026
In the past, particularly bad fliers could spend the entirety of the attraction being berated by the character of Ohnaka.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
Some commenters pointed out moments when the robots seemed to mishandle packages and berated robots for occasionally dropping packages.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
The Major League Eating speed-eating record for grits is 21 pounds in 10 minutes, held by Patrick Bertoletti, whose critics berated his gritty performance ad hominy.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
I’ve been berated by my daughter and my wife (who was sleeping) for overreacting and being rude for two days now.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Growing up in an Irish immigrant family, Dolan was frequently beaten by his mother who consistently mocked and berated him.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Tim Fang, CBS News, 1 June 2026
After a nearfall, Becky got in Jessika Carr’s face and berated her.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Refugee advocacy organizations berated the new emergency order.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 26 May 2026
In the past, particularly bad fliers could spend the entirety of the attraction being berated by the character of Ohnaka.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
Some commenters pointed out moments when the robots seemed to mishandle packages and berated robots for occasionally dropping packages.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2026
The Major League Eating speed-eating record for grits is 21 pounds in 10 minutes, held by Patrick Bertoletti, whose critics berated his gritty performance ad hominy.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
I’ve been berated by my daughter and my wife (who was sleeping) for overreacting and being rude for two days now.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Growing up in an Irish immigrant family, Dolan was frequently beaten by his mother who consistently mocked and berated him.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berated
Verb
-
The child, now 6 years old, only hears her full name when she's being scolded — though Kendra and Bill are currently trying to undo that pattern.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
27 May 2026
-
Katie Porter scolded, Tom Steyer channeled Bernie.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Member of the UK Association of Jungian Analysts, and has taught and lectured at many academic institutions, Jungian organisations, retreat centres and cultural festivals around the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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It was also being lectured by people who presented a formulaic perspective on a complicated future that the class of 2026 is already navigating.—
Ann Kirschner,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Behind closed doors, ProPublica revealed, the majority-Republican state Supreme Court quashed the commission’s recommendations that two Republican judges who’d admitted to committing egregious conduct violations be publicly reprimanded.—
Doug Bock Clark,
ProPublica,
5 June 2026
-
The employee has been reprimanded.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Advocates have long criticized the conditions at the Aurora facility, and those complaints — alongside concerns that more facilities could open in the state — helped drive HB 1276’s contents.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
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Bass has called for hiring more officers and defending her Inside Safe homelessness program, while Raman has criticized the cost of police raises, called for broader public-safety responses and argued that the city needs a more accountable and cost-effective homelessness system.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Berated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berated. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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