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
The coach focused on helping his team settle and regain their confidence rather than berating them for falling behind.
—
Jay Feldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
However, the dad was met with opposition from another baseball fan, who grabbed the child's arm and appeared to berate him, as seen in video footage that has since gone viral.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
After the dad walked back over to his son, the woman — also a Phillies fan — who lost the battle walked back over to the family and berated them.
—Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Current and former division attorneys interviewed by ProPublica and The Chronicle said the lawyers had misgivings about the administration’s tactics and were reluctant to work with Terrell, who already had a reputation for berating staffers.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Jay Feldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
However, the dad was met with opposition from another baseball fan, who grabbed the child's arm and appeared to berate him, as seen in video footage that has since gone viral.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
After the dad walked back over to his son, the woman — also a Phillies fan — who lost the battle walked back over to the family and berated them.
—Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Current and former division attorneys interviewed by ProPublica and The Chronicle said the lawyers had misgivings about the administration’s tactics and were reluctant to work with Terrell, who already had a reputation for berating staffers.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berate
Verb
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Shipp is tasked with scolding her father and delivering leaden exposition.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
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In Part 2, viewers see Morticia scold her children for lying to her, yet Morticia is keeping secrets from Wednesday about her past and family.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tensions are high on campuses after the assassination, with some professors getting fired or reprimanded for celebrations of the conservative commentator’s death.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
13 Sep. 2025
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San Juan Unified School District Trustee Nick Bloise was formally reprimanded by the board in relation to his behavior during a school site visit.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For a time she was asked to lecture new volunteers … until she was asked not to.—
Mimi Pond,
People.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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In between all the jokes, the film stops more than once to basically lecture on this sad state of affairs, an admirable Sturges-like approach that gets laid on thick, perhaps too thick to merge successfully with the largely comedic rhythm Ansari has established so well.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More generally, the Nepalese public criticized the government’s measures disproportionate impact on ordinary users.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Republicans on Sunday criticized some Democrats, suggesting language used by them contributed to Kirk's killing, claims that Democrats rejected.—
Lalee Ibssa,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Berate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berate. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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