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scold

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noun

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

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.
Recent Examples of scold
Verb
On Wednesday, the couple jokingly addressed the awkward interview in which Hilaria scolded Alec for interrupting her during a red carpet moment that has since gone viral. Christina Dugan Ramirez, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2025 Omari Hardwick scolded an interviewer who misquoted him in a seeming attempt to stir up drama between the actor and Power producer 50 Cent. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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 See All Example Sentences for scold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scold
Verb
  • Mickey Rourke was reprimanded on Celebrity Big Brother UK after using a homophobic slur toward fellow housemate JoJo Siwa.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The mom comes back and then reprimanded me for not supporting her baby’s head.
    Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Quilting group hosts lecture, workshop El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 a.m. April 8 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
  • But the club’s members didn’t lecture or advocate until 20 years after its 1876 founding.
    Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Season 7’s sleek, six-episode lineup is drawing some of its best reviews to date, with critics praising the emotional complexity, tonal range, and sharp storytelling.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Professors of cultural studies, or history, or the arts, have long seen themselves as critics of institutions, including the universities that employ them.
    Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The judge also criticized the Corps for failing to quantify how climate change will impact precipitation and, therefore, how that change could impact the need for more water storage.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
  • In a video posted to X, Brand thanked his fans for messages of support, then criticized the British government and legal system before addressing the charges directly.
    Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • For the past several years, clips from the show have circulated on TikTok and X—with certain viewers admonishing Banks for some of her views about the modeling industry.
    Essence, Essence, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The judge also admonished state officials for refusing to make the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol publicly available.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Last month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Trump's tariffs were partly to blame for price increases that had taken place in February.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • They are blamed for a mysterious illness that’s starting to spread – said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • She’s not done berating the Almighty when she’s interrupted by a sound: a train, chugging through the great white expanse.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Cut to Alex, desperately tending to her dwindling fire while berating God for letting her experience love, only to rip it away from her.
    Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Plus, Lucky Duck showed up to chastise the panelists — to their faces.
    Lauren Huff, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The president on Friday chastised China over its decision to lavish retaliatory tariffs.
    Steff Danielle Thomas, The Hill, 5 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scold. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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