as in reprimand
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as in scolding
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 berating
Kerry Brown, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud's berating of a Christian minister who objected to street signs named after an Arab American leader is being called out by his electoral opponent.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Ye's only commentary at the show, according to The New York Times, was berating stage technicians over the pace of the lighting.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The coach is swigging from a beer bottle, visibly drunk even from across a hockey rink, and roundly berating his players.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
The normally Trump-friendly Daily Caller ran a less-than-flattering piece about the president berating a reporter for asking about troop deployments.
—Kathy Kiely, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Noem and her chief adviser Corey Lewandowski -- who is reportedly also departing DHS -- both had a knack for lashing out, yelling and berating staff that crossed them, according to sources.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Other potential candidates, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, have achieved fame by berating and ridiculing the other side.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
She is accused of loudly berating District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur during a one-on-one meeting earlier this month.
—Molly Smith, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
Messi, Inter Miami’s captain, frequently speaks to referees, but has never been fined or suspended by MLS for confronting or berating them.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
Trump’s berating of China earlier this year has also brought rewards to Xi domestically, too.
—Kerry Brown, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud's berating of a Christian minister who objected to street signs named after an Arab American leader is being called out by his electoral opponent.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
Continue reading … UNHINGED RANT — Dems' favorite streamer Hasan Piker caught berating refugee on video.
—FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Ye's only commentary at the show, according to The New York Times, was berating stage technicians over the pace of the lighting.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The coach is swigging from a beer bottle, visibly drunk even from across a hockey rink, and roundly berating his players.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
The normally Trump-friendly Daily Caller ran a less-than-flattering piece about the president berating a reporter for asking about troop deployments.
—Kathy Kiely, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Noem and her chief adviser Corey Lewandowski -- who is reportedly also departing DHS -- both had a knack for lashing out, yelling and berating staff that crossed them, according to sources.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Other potential candidates, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, have achieved fame by berating and ridiculing the other side.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
She is accused of loudly berating District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur during a one-on-one meeting earlier this month.
—Molly Smith, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
Messi, Inter Miami’s captain, frequently speaks to referees, but has never been fined or suspended by MLS for confronting or berating them.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berating
Noun
-
Jordan, who has served as a circuit judge since 2011, could face a public reprimand for his actions.—
Camila Gomez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
If the ethics charges are upheld, the congresswoman could face a humiliating report, a public reprimand like censure or even expulsion from the House.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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First, as the Florida ACLU’s Howard Simon points out, Uthmeier is not scolding another branch of government.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Security guard Pascal Duvier, most recently infamous for allegedly scolding 11-year-old Ada Law at a hotel in São Paulo, is clearing the air.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kelly’s reform package was rolled out in tandem with a veto and scathing rebuke of a GOP bill that would have empowered 10% of voters in cities, counties and school districts to reject budgets that spend more than the previous year.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
-
To him, the election seemed to embolden people to be louder and more open with their rebuke.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Therefore, now is not the time to be lecturing our partners and allies.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
-
That includes lecturing, building curriculum, pursuing research and speaking about university policy.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The duo’s direct clashes whiplash with motivational complexity as well as physical lashing out.—
Bob Strauss,
Houston Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The duo’s direct clashes whiplash with motivational complexity as well as physical lashing out.—
Bob Strauss,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hart was reprimanding Ross for doing what is the most offensive thing a comedian can do — suck up to the most important person in the room — and enforcing an old ethic in comedy, which is not apologizing for your jokes.—
Robert Lynch,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Indeed, Ye didn’t say much of anything during the two-hour concert beyond a number of reprimanding comments directed at his stage crew.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the appeal to you, gentle readers, to email us with your thoughts, questions, reproofs, corrections, jokes, recipes, etc.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
9 May 2025
-
Advertisement China’s Foreign Ministry also issued a vehement reproof.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Rory McIlroy was similarly vocal, criticizing the league, Saudi Arabian money, the players, and CEO Norman.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor took a swipe at fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh at an event on April 7, criticizing her bench-mate for his recent opinion in an immigration case.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Berating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berating. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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