Synonyms of scold

scold 1 of 2

verb

ˈskōld 

as in to reprimand

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

he scolded the kids for not cleaning up the mess they had made in the kitchen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reprimand
• lecture
• criticize
• admonish
• blame
• berate
• chastise
• upbraid
• lambast
• fault
• rag
• rebuke
• attack
• castigate
• rail (at or against)
• call down
• lambaste
• mock
• flay
• reproach
• bawl out
• chide
• chew out
• jaw
• ream (out)
• dress down
• rate
• lay into
• rant (at)
• keelhaul
• condemn
• baste
• read the riot act (to)
• hammer
• score
• take to task
• slam
• revile
• tongue-lash
• diss
• reprove
• denounce
• excoriate
• lash
• disparage
• knock
• harangue
• crucify
• assail
• remonstrate (with)
• belittle
• censure
• ridicule
• abuse
• blast
• reprehend
• vituperate
• bad-mouth
• scoff
• pan
• scourge
• scorn
• lace (into)
• dis
• put down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• endorse
• indorse
• sanction
• praise
• extol
• laud
• extoll

scold

2 of 2

noun

as in faultfinder

Related Words

• faultfinder
• critic
• nitpicker
• censurer
• railer
• carper
• fishwife
• gorgon
• caviller
• detractor
• castigator
• caviler
• termagant
• harridan
• battle-axe
• shrew
• virago
• dragon lady
• vixen
• harpy
• battle-ax
• derider
• quibbler
• fury
• belittler
• pettifogger

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb scold differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scold are berate, rail, revile, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When would berate be a good substitute for scold?

The meanings of berate and scold largely overlap; however, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When can rail be used instead of scold?

The words rail and scold are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When is revile a more appropriate choice than scold?

The synonyms revile and scold are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When could upbraid be used to replace scold?

While the synonyms upbraid and scold are close in meaning, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

Where would vituperate be a reasonable alternative to scold?

While in some cases nearly identical to scold, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scold

Verb

When Roger Goodell suspended Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for at least one full season for betting on NFL games, the commissioner was very careful with the wording of his official scold. —Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2022

Bozell, who plays a media scold on television, has written a book that despite its subtitle is neither dogmatic nor even thematic. —Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 6 Jan. 2022

Noun

Rachel Dratch scolded Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz for laughing while rehearsing the original Debbie Downer sketch on Saturday Night Live. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025

There, she is repeatedly scolded, first by a testy parking attendant (Mark Stolzenberg), and then by a doctor (Bronstein), who warns Linda of consequences if her daughter doesn’t soon reach her target weight of fifty pounds. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025