berate
verb
transitive verb
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Berate and Rate
Berate and rate can both mean "to rebuke angrily or violently." This sense of rate was first recorded in the 14th century, centuries before the familiar (and etymologically unrelated) rate meaning "to estimate the value of." We know that berate was probably formed by combining the prefix be- and the older rate, but the origins of this particular rate itself are somewhat more obscure.
Synonyms
- baste
- bawl out
- call down
- castigate
- chastise
- chew out
- dress down
- flay
- hammer
- jaw
- keelhaul
- lambaste
- lambast
- lecture
- rag
- rail (at or against)
- rant (at)
- rate
- ream (out)
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- scold
- score
- tongue-lash
- upbraid
Example Sentences
San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2022 Post-verdict, the hostility toward Heard raged on, with people using the hashtag #MeToo to berate her and feeling emboldened by the verdict to do so. Sara Ashley O'brien, CNN, 2 June 2022 During his time at the United Nations, Kyslytsya has been known for brandishing unusually colorful, Twitter-ready language to berate Russia over its actions in Ukraine. Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 26 May 2022 Winkler’s father, Harry, a cultured, commanding little Napoleon, was fluent in maybe six languages, and used more than one of them to berate his son. New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022 According to Heard, Depp proceeded to slam her against a wall, squeeze her neck, berate her and throw her across the room onto a table. Christi Carrasstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2022 Ye has also rapped about Kardashian’s new beau, Pete Davidson, and also encouraged fans via his Instagram account to berate the comedian. Anna Chan, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2022 Other prisoners shouted and banged on the bars of their cells, and the prison warden rushed to berate them. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2022 Eventually, his guilt drives him to call his father to berate him for forever looming over Jack and Marilyn, keeping them from being close because their relationship was tainted with the memory of Stanley's brutality. Amanda Ostuni, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
1548, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
berate
verb
berate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- scold
- reprimand
- lecture
- criticize
- chastise
- blame
- admonish
- upbraid
- lambast
- castigate
- lambaste
- flay
- rag
- rebuke
- chide
- mock
- call down
- dress down
- attack
- reproach
- bawl out
- keelhaul
- fault
- rate
- lay into
- baste
- jaw
- chew out
- hammer
- score
- excoriate
- ream (out)
- condemn
- harangue
- crucify
- denounce
- disparage
- revile
- assail
- belittle
- slam
- take to task
- rant (at)
- read the riot act (to)
- vituperate
- tongue-lash
- reprove
- rail (at or against)
- knock
- lash
- ridicule
- bad-mouth
- diss
- reprehend
- abuse
- scoff
- censure
- pan
- scorn
- scourge
- blast
- remonstrate (with)
- dis
- lace (into)
- put down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approve
- endorse
- indorse
- sanction
- extol
- laud
- praise
- extoll
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of berate are rail, revile, scold, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.
While in some cases nearly identical to berate, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.
In some situations, the words revile and berate are roughly equivalent. However, revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.
The synonyms scold and berate are sometimes interchangeable, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.
The words upbraid and berate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.
The meanings of vituperate and berate largely overlap; however, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.