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
The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
In October, a controversial video leaked in which Alex can be heard using expletives and berating his younger sister during a rehearsal.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 Jan. 2026
Audio recordings previously obtained by the Observer and other news outlets featured McFadden berating staff, calling them untrustworthy and calling a white captain a racial slur.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
A day after an irritable TV interview went viral, an old video surfaced of the former Orange County congresswoman cursing and berating one of her aides.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Itsaragrisil could be seen berating Bosch for allegedly refusing to partake in a photo shoot meant for contestants to share on social media at a pre-pageant event.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Minaj allegedly started berating the female security guard while recording the exchange.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Hammoud faced criticism earlier this year for berating a Christian minister, but later said the city welcomes all.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Mace was recently filmed berating police officers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel at a South Carolina airport.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
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
Tigers fans spent all morning berating Jayhawks fans before the game even started.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
In October, a controversial video leaked in which Alex can be heard using expletives and berating his younger sister during a rehearsal.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 Jan. 2026
Audio recordings previously obtained by the Observer and other news outlets featured McFadden berating staff, calling them untrustworthy and calling a white captain a racial slur.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
A day after an irritable TV interview went viral, an old video surfaced of the former Orange County congresswoman cursing and berating one of her aides.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Itsaragrisil could be seen berating Bosch for allegedly refusing to partake in a photo shoot meant for contestants to share on social media at a pre-pageant event.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Minaj allegedly started berating the female security guard while recording the exchange.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Hammoud faced criticism earlier this year for berating a Christian minister, but later said the city welcomes all.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Mace was recently filmed berating police officers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel at a South Carolina airport.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berating
Noun
-
Violators face nothing more serious than firing, reduction in salary grade, a ban on federal employment for up to five years, suspension, reprimand or a fine of up to $1,000.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Kelly also argued that Hegseth’s potential reprimand of a sitting senator would have a chilling effect on other military veterans.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sanders, by now a perennial candidate, perfected his craggy, scolding, mitten-waving style.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
But more recently, groups of citizens have grown tired of scolding and have begun reaching for the birch rod.—
Nick Bowlin,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
In this context, the Hall snub is a fitting—if unjustified—rebuke.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Despite the rebuke, his voice already sounded mellower—syrupy even.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Christian author Philip Yancey is retiring from writing and lecturing after admitting to a long-running affair with a married woman.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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After teaching at Sacramento City College and lecturing at UC Davis, Fisher moved into public history, working with the California Office of Historic Preservation and the Architectural History Department at Caltrans.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford, who have now walked plenty a red carpet together, embrace their dark features with red lips, lashings of mascara, and undulating brunette curls.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
17 Dec. 2025
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Krampus is a fabled goat-like figure that punishes naughty children with lashings, sometimes kidnapping them from their homes, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.—
Angelika Ytuarte,
jsonline.com,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Censures, a means of formally reprimanding a lawmaker without going so far as to expel them, have historically been rare; in the 200 years after Congress first convened, only 22 House members were censured.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
21 Nov. 2025
-
When conversation veers into controversial territory, Gott suggests redirecting rather than reprimanding.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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Advertisement China’s Foreign Ministry also issued a vehement reproof.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Dec. 2024
Verb
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President Erdoğan mastered this approach—publicly criticizing rate decisions, invoking Islamic prohibitions on interest, signaling displeasure through state media—until governors either complied or departed.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Justice Department also launched a probe into Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their public statements criticizing the presence of ICE in the state.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Berating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berating. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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