Synonyms of upbraid

upbraid

verb

ˌəp-ˈbrād 

as in to scold

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

his wife upbraided him for his irresponsible handling of the family finances

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• endorse
• sanction
• praise
• extol
• laud

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb upbraid differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of upbraid are berate, rail, revile, scold, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

When might berate be a better fit than upbraid?

Although the words berate and upbraid have much in common, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When would rail be a good substitute for upbraid?

The words rail and upbraid can be used in similar contexts, but rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

Where would revile be a reasonable alternative to upbraid?

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

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When is it sensible to use scold instead of upbraid?

While in some cases nearly identical to upbraid, scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When can vituperate be used instead of upbraid?

The words vituperate and upbraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of upbraid

The stupidity of his denigration of the COVID vaccines — there’s that word again — brought him a joint upbraiding by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2023. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024

That starts with upbraiding Chapman’s would-be assassin, who’s still nursing injuries from being run over by a taxicab — this after handling three other agents quite capably. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024

Some sources point to friction with Soon-Shiong’s 30-year-old daughter, Nika Soon-Shiong, who in recent years has apparently appointed herself the paper’s unofficial ombudsman, publicly upbraiding journalists when their politics don’t fall in line with her own progressive thinking. —Jason McGahan, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2024

On occasion, Muslim countries had publicly upbraided India, even if that rhetoric did not lead to any concrete change in policy. —Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2022

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