as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
there's no need to berate someone for making a mistake during the first day on the job
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Recent Examples of berate
But not only did that not happen; Trump leaned hard in the other direction, fawning over Putin, voting with Russia at the U.N. Security Council, berating Ukraine’s President in the Oval Office.
—
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 10 July 2025
In a landmark case, a Stockport County fan who was arrested for verbally berating him has been convicted and fined.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Donald Trump and Republican Thomas Massie are continuing to butt heads as the president berated the Northern Kentucky congressman in a recent Truth Social post.
—Hailey Roden, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated the Ukrainian president in front of the media.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 10 July 2025
In a landmark case, a Stockport County fan who was arrested for verbally berating him has been convicted and fined.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Donald Trump and Republican Thomas Massie are continuing to butt heads as the president berated the Northern Kentucky congressman in a recent Truth Social post.
—Hailey Roden, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated the Ukrainian president in front of the media.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berate
Verb
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Minutes later, Boone was spotted appearing to scold first-base coach Travis Chapman for Chisholm getting thrown out.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
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But instead of yelling or scolding, Hocker speaks to her daughter gently, and with compassion.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Officer Juan Gonzalez, a 12-year Miami Gardens police veteran, described being reprimanded for speaking to other Hispanic officers at a crime scene.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
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Ruben is sailing across the Atlantic with them (which Duncan rightfully reprimands him for later – like really, who brings a small child across the ocean in a sailboat?).—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The type of boy to break up fights at school and lecture his fellow classmates, Steeno added.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
9 July 2025
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The designer published his autobiography, continued to lecture about fashion.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Rather than opt for a two-year extension of the current lease, which has been criticized by some residents since it was signed in 1997, the Bengals and the county agreed on a new 11-year lease.—
Erin Glynn,
The Enquirer,
2 Aug. 2025
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The comedian and political commentator has long criticized late-night hosts like Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Berate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berate. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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