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
Instead, one of the most dramatic Oval Office moments in recent memory unfolded as Trump and Vance berated Zelenskyy.
—
Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
Within 12 hours of Starmer's return from Washington, the talk of peace seemed to collapse as Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy for challenging Trump's assertions that Putin could be trusted.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2025
How dare a draft dodging dumb dupe humiliate an ally and berate an actual brave man who has actually been on a battlefield for his people?!
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
His quip followed Trump’s shocking Oval Office meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, with the president berating Ukraine’s leader and complaining at the treatment shown to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
Within 12 hours of Starmer's return from Washington, the talk of peace seemed to collapse as Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy for challenging Trump's assertions that Putin could be trusted.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2025
How dare a draft dodging dumb dupe humiliate an ally and berate an actual brave man who has actually been on a battlefield for his people?!
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
His quip followed Trump’s shocking Oval Office meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, with the president berating Ukraine’s leader and complaining at the treatment shown to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berate
Verb
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Michelle Obama playfully scolded her husband, Barack Obama, on her new podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
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According to Smith, James, who approached him in the third quarter during a timeout, scolded him for his commentary regarding his son and teammate, Bronny James.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Police had stern words for one teenager caught surfing and four others were also reprimanded for putting themselves and others in danger.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
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Trump and Vance reprimanded Zelensky, accusing him of lacking gratitude for U.S. aid.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Tristan is doing a surprisingly good job at lecturing the Royal Army Veterinary Corps soldiers about taking care of mules and the like.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2025
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The hostages forum described Moses as an expert agronomist who lectured on agriculture and helped maintain the kibbutz’s community vegetable garden.—
ASSOCIATED PRESS,
TIME,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have sharply criticized the other Supreme Court judges for declining to hear a case called Alabama v. California.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
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Edelman sharply criticized that decision in an interview that aired last week on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Berate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berate. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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