Synonyms of scolds

scolds 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scold

as in reprimands

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

• reprimands
• lectures
• criticizes
• blames
• admonishes
• berates
• chastises
• upbraids
• rebukes
• castigates
• mocks
• lambastes
• faults
• flays
• chides
• reproaches
• bawls out
• attacks
• rags
• rails (at or against)
• calls down
• jaws
• bastes
• dresses down
• reams (out)
• scores
• lays into
• takes to task
• rants (at)
• hammers
• condemns
• slams
• rates
• chews out
• reproves
• denounces
• tongue-lashes
• keelhauls
• reviles
• excoriates
• reads the riot act (to)
• assails
• crucifies
• disparages
• ridicules
• knocks
• blasts
• abuses
• belittles
• censures
• harangues
• scoffs
• remonstrates (with)
• lashes
• scorns
• pans
• bad-mouths
• scourges
• disses
• reprehends
• vituperates
• laces (into)
• puts down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approves
• endorses
• sanctions
• praises
• extols
• lauds

scolds

2 of 2

noun

plural of scold

as in carpers

Related Words

• carpers
• faultfinders
• nitpickers
• critics
• railers
• censurers
• cavilers
• detractors
• gorgons
• deriders
• harridans
• shrews
• furies
• castigators
• belittlers
• quibblers
• termagants
• dragon ladies
• viragoes
• harpies
• battle-axes
• fishwifes
• vixens
• pettifoggers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scolds

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

Someone else scolds the offender. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

Inspired by This Is Spinal Tap, Cundieff makes quick work of lambasting the casual misogyny and homophobia ingrained in hardcore rap, but also of the media scolds unable to parse the message of the music. — Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026

Stumbling on to this ruse, Antoine’s friend and manager Armand (Gilles Lellouche) immediately can tell Suzanne is a fake and scolds her for exploiting his friend’s grief. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 12 May 2026

Or tie scolds to the ducking stool again. — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026

McMahon likes to remind scolds that wrestling is a morality play. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

This cross-partisan skit is refreshing and the only people who might hate it are Cuomo supporters and maybe some woke scolds. — Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026