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
Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
She has also been credited with a more compassionate way of hosting a cooking show, rather than the berating that previously featured on many food shows.
—Peter White, Deadline, 4 May 2026
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
Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 1 June 2026
The Portugal midfielder was livid with his United team-mates for their role in Phil Foden’s opening goal, openly berating them as City celebrated.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Just about the entire movie unfolds inside a beige Paris hotel suite, and then a fancy restaurant, where Philip Doom (Harrelson), who is some sort of wealthy blowhard, and his 32-year-old daughter, Madeleine (Stewart), are sitting around berating each other.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 May 2026
As the overbearing Barone family matriarch, Doris Roberts was the queen of laughs, doting on her sons, berating her two daughters-in-law and bickering with her husband.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Because Eatherly was known to openly carry a pistol while berating people, the combination could constitute assault, Raybin said.
—Travis Loller, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
And in New York, hundreds of teens flooded a mall in the Bronx in February, trashing stores and berating mall employees.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Porter, 52, said that voters should look at her record fighting corporate interests and forgive some of her past lapses, as when she was caught on video berating an aide.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The movie opens in 1966, when Michael was roughly 8 and his tyrannical father Joe, played by Colman Domingo, is beating and berating his five young sons to push them to stardom.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
Even at the best of times to carry such a shocking tale to Varsha’s mother, Dipika, would mean risking a berating and possibly even dismissal.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
She has also been credited with a more compassionate way of hosting a cooking show, rather than the berating that previously featured on many food shows.
—Peter White, Deadline, 4 May 2026
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
Trump had long gone after Powell, deriding, berating and threatening to fire the ex-Fed chair.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 1 June 2026
The Portugal midfielder was livid with his United team-mates for their role in Phil Foden’s opening goal, openly berating them as City celebrated.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Just about the entire movie unfolds inside a beige Paris hotel suite, and then a fancy restaurant, where Philip Doom (Harrelson), who is some sort of wealthy blowhard, and his 32-year-old daughter, Madeleine (Stewart), are sitting around berating each other.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 May 2026
As the overbearing Barone family matriarch, Doris Roberts was the queen of laughs, doting on her sons, berating her two daughters-in-law and bickering with her husband.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Because Eatherly was known to openly carry a pistol while berating people, the combination could constitute assault, Raybin said.
—Travis Loller, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
And in New York, hundreds of teens flooded a mall in the Bronx in February, trashing stores and berating mall employees.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Porter, 52, said that voters should look at her record fighting corporate interests and forgive some of her past lapses, as when she was caught on video berating an aide.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
The movie opens in 1966, when Michael was roughly 8 and his tyrannical father Joe, played by Colman Domingo, is beating and berating his five young sons to push them to stardom.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berating
Noun
-
Rollins leaked non-public Department of Justice information to the media that was damaging to Arroyo’s opponent DA Kevin Hayden, and was later issued a public reprimand by the state Board of Bar Overseers for the ethics breach cited in the reports.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
13 June 2026
-
The judiciary's system for policing misconduct includes punishment such as informal warnings and public reprimands.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The princess hilariously put her little brother in his place by scolding him.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
-
On March 12, the judge sought to change the journalists’ seating arrangement in court after scolding them for asking İmamoğlu questions during a hearing.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The mayor’s rebuke did not satisfy Guzman.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
-
On Friday, the New York City Democratic Socialists of America — an organization that represents Mamdani’s core base — denounced his administration’s move to grow the city’s police headcount in a rare public rebuke.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
Verb
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College professors spend less time lecturing than a typical sportswriter creating fake controversies to criticize.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
If and until that day comes, there will be fingerpointing, lecturing and posturing, all of which has flowed freely in the wake of the Sorsby decision.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Despite the critical lashing, the audience score has been propped up by faithful fans and is sitting at 96%.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
-
If plants look deflated or heavily wilted after a wind lashing, this is a sign of water loss.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Earlier this week, Scott Agness claimed his press credentials were revoked by the team after his reporting led to the WNBA reprimanding the Fever for not being transparent about Clark’s health status during a game on May 20.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
-
If something’s not done as far as reprimanding, what will that do to him as a student?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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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The group issued a point-by-point analysis of the memorandum, criticizing it for potentially freeing up tens of billions of dollars for Iran without putting sufficient safeguards to ensure the country won’t use the money to fund operations against the United States.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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The week, however, was not without controversy for the South Korean team, as the squad barred press from their home country after audio of media criticizing the mandatory military service exemption granted to Son was leaked.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Berating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berating. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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