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 Trump administration's thawing of relations with Russia comes after Trump stunned Ukraine and NATO allies by berating Zelensky at an Oval Office meeting last month.
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Censure: Moskowitz was one of only 10 Democrats to vote with the Republicans in favor of censuring U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who interrupted, berated and waved his cane at President Donald Trump during his March 4 speech to a joint session of Congress.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025
Maron could be a reluctant subject, at times berating Feinartz off camera for relentlessly filming him over multiple years.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 12 Mar. 2025
The change of approach relative to that taken by President Biden became striking after Trump berated Zelensky on Feb. 28 in the Oval Office.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berate
Verb
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Omari Hardwick scolded an interviewer who misquoted him in a seeming attempt to stir up drama between the actor and Power producer 50 Cent.—
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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.—
Verb
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Logical consistency would require these legislators to reprimand PURA’s rigid approach and call for more regulatory flexibility so utilities can invest proactively in essential cybersecurity measures.—
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As John Cena and The Rock's Third Man WWE Could Steal Away Top AEW Star: Report Strickland recounted a meeting with Vince McMahon, where the group was reprimanded for a member's aggressive phone call to a WWE office employee regarding B-Fab's flight details.—
Verb
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Boutros has also lectured at the University of Chicago Law School since 2011 and published two books on white-collar law.—
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For decades, Washington lectured Beijing about avoiding protectionism, eliminating barriers to foreign investment, and disciplining the use of subsidies and industrial policy—with only modest success.—
Verb
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In a 1907 essay, the writer Ito Sakon criticized the idea of escaping the hot urban summer, instead presenting the heat as an opportunity for self-improvement.—
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But McGregor faces an uphill task to get his name on the ballot as few Irish lawmakers share his vehement anti-immigrant views, and many publicly criticized him after the civil case last November.—
Cite this Entry
“Berate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berate. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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