RAILS (AT OR AGAINST) Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

rails (at or against)

verb

present tense third-person singular of rail (at or against)

as in scolds

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings we could hear the cook in the kitchen railing against his assistant and wondered if we'd ever get our food

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for rails (at or against)

Verb

The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
In the beginning, Piker wanted to show young men that leftists could be fun — not just woke social-justice warriors and PC scolds.

— Josh Eells, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolds

Verb

Scarlett Johansson dresses down in a New York Giants sweatshirt on set for The Exorcist in New York City on March 30.

— Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Around the same time, Oscar de la Renta sent floor-skimming shirt dresses down the runway, while Stephen Burrows gave sequins a sporty edge in wrap-styles blouses and dresses – perfect for transitioning from work to cocktail parties in the era.

— Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 19 Dec. 2025

Definition of dresses down

Verb

Summary Digital forensics expert Brett Shavers criticizes how non-practitioners increasingly dictate digital investigation processes, prioritizing administrative metrics over field realities.

— Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Arendt criticizes these men but never says that the Jews were responsible for their own destruction.

— David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticizes

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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rails (against)

rails (at or against)

railway

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“Rails (at or against).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rails%20%28at%20or%20against%29. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of rails (at or against)

verb

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