as in scolding
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reprimand
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 berating
Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Karl Vick, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
But just yelling and berating people, done that for eight years.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
Auburn athletics director John Cohen was seen berating officials as the team went into the locker room for halftime.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Over the past week, some have posted clips of Hammoud berating Barham that have drawn millions of views.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 24 Sep. 2025
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
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
Devon Hogan Flanagan, a special assistant attorney general in Rhode Island, who was caught on video berating police officers trying to remove her from a restaurant after she was asked to leave, has been placed on unpaid leave for six months.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2025
Ellis also accused the rapper of berating and body-shaming her and spitting on her.
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud's berating of a Christian minister who objected to street signs named after an Arab American leader is being called out by his electoral opponent.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
In August, Ben-Gvir released a video of himself berating a visibly frail Barghouti in his cell.
—Karl Vick, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
But just yelling and berating people, done that for eight years.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
Auburn athletics director John Cohen was seen berating officials as the team went into the locker room for halftime.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Over the past week, some have posted clips of Hammoud berating Barham that have drawn millions of views.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 24 Sep. 2025
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
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
Devon Hogan Flanagan, a special assistant attorney general in Rhode Island, who was caught on video berating police officers trying to remove her from a restaurant after she was asked to leave, has been placed on unpaid leave for six months.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2025
Ellis also accused the rapper of berating and body-shaming her and spitting on her.
—EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berating
Verb
-
Like an impatient parent scolding their toddler, Frankenstein grows frustrated with his monster’s limited capacity for speech.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Rodgers stayed down for a moment before getting to his feet and giving a quick two-handed push to Jones’ chest while scolding him.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Just last season, he was suspended for three games after a hit to the head of Jacksonville Jaguars passer Trevor Lawrence, prompting a public reprimand from the NFL policy and rules administration.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
He was convicted of failing in his duties and received a formal reprimand.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Since exiting Dries Van Noten a few years ago, Scallon has been working as an independent consultant and mentor in fashion communications strategy, also lecturing occasionally and sharing his views about creative content on podcasts.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The same woman Don had been lecturing about beer.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The texts drew rebuke from Republican senators, prompting him to withdraw his nomination on Tuesday.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The emails show the extent to which top officials were blindsided by the scope of the deficit and include an angry rebuke from the County Executive David Crowley's office.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When conversation veers into controversial territory, Gott suggests redirecting rather than reprimanding.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
-
To this end, Cucinelli urged the independent players to tap into the online commerce without betraying their identity of exclusivity and desirability, subtly reprimanding those who embraced the gray market outright.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But despite the excessive lashings of déjà vu, these are storytelling clichés that work.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
There were, indeed, in the Middle Ages, some very fine paintings covered in lashings of gold leaf.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of criticizing yourself for not following through, get curious.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Trump has argued the White House needs a large entertaining space, criticizing the past practice of presidents hosting state dinners and other large events in tents on the South Lawn.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the appeal to you, gentle readers, to email us with your thoughts, questions, reproofs, corrections, jokes, recipes, etc.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
9 May 2025
-
Advertisement China’s Foreign Ministry also issued a vehement reproof.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Berating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berating. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share