Synonyms of scold

scold 1 of 2

verb

ˈskōld 

as in to reprimand

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

he scolded the kids for not cleaning up the mess they had made in the kitchen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reprimand
• lecture
• criticize
• admonish
• blame
• berate
• chastise
• upbraid
• lambast
• fault
• rag
• rebuke
• attack
• castigate
• rail (at or against)
• call down
• lambaste
• mock
• flay
• reproach
• bawl out
• chide
• chew out
• jaw
• ream (out)
• dress down
• rate
• lay into
• rant (at)
• keelhaul
• condemn
• baste
• read the riot act (to)
• hammer
• score
• take to task
• slam
• revile
• tongue-lash
• diss
• reprove
• denounce
• excoriate
• lash
• disparage
• knock
• harangue
• crucify
• assail
• remonstrate (with)
• belittle
• censure
• ridicule
• abuse
• blast
• reprehend
• vituperate
• bad-mouth
• scoff
• pan
• scourge
• scorn
• lace (into)
• dis
• put down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• endorse
• indorse
• sanction
• praise
• extol
• laud
• extoll

scold

2 of 2

noun

as in faultfinder

Synonyms & Similar Words

• faultfinder
• critic
• nitpicker
• censurer
• railer
• carper
• fishwife
• gorgon
• caviller
• detractor
• castigator
• caviler
• termagant
• harridan
• battle-axe
• shrew
• virago
• dragon lady
• vixen
• harpy
• battle-ax
• derider
• quibbler
• fury
• belittler
• pettifogger

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb scold differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scold are berate, rail, revile, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When would berate be a good substitute for scold?

The meanings of berate and scold largely overlap; however, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When can rail be used instead of scold?

The words rail and scold are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When is revile a more appropriate choice than scold?

The synonyms revile and scold are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When could upbraid be used to replace scold?

While the synonyms upbraid and scold are close in meaning, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

Where would vituperate be a reasonable alternative to scold?

While in some cases nearly identical to scold, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Examples of scold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Former President Barack Obama addressed the dampening of black male enthusiasm last week, scolding them at a campaign stop in Pittsburgh. —Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Oct. 2024

There’s no scolding kids for turning in books late or shushing noisy students. —Scottie Andrew, CNN, 29 Sep. 2024

Noun

This is tricky to pull off, though, without turning into exactly the kind of scold that sitcoms have been mocking since time immemorial. —Jeva Lange, The Week, 11 June 2021

Dude, Daniel is now married to chief scold Amanda LaRusso. —Cydney Lee, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2021