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
This visit ended with Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating the Ukrainian leader in front of the world's media.
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Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Vance berated Zelenskyy for not being thankful for the support the U.S. has provided Ukraine.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
After decades of berating China for imposing high tariffs and other restrictions on U.S. exports, the United States is now putting up the same barriers.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
Last week, Connecticut Rep. John Larson had a heated exchange with his Republican colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee, berating them for blocking the unelected billionaire’s testimony on Social Security cuts.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Vance berated Zelenskyy for not being thankful for the support the U.S. has provided Ukraine.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
After decades of berating China for imposing high tariffs and other restrictions on U.S. exports, the United States is now putting up the same barriers.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
Last week, Connecticut Rep. John Larson had a heated exchange with his Republican colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee, berating them for blocking the unelected billionaire’s testimony on Social Security cuts.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for berate
Verb
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The White House was reprimanded: A federal judge scolded the Trump administration for failing to try to return the man.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
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At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt scolded reporters for not understanding the president’s plans.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Mickey Rourke was reprimanded on Celebrity Big Brother UK after using a homophobic slur toward fellow housemate JoJo Siwa.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
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The mom comes back and then reprimanded me for not supporting her baby’s head.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Quilting group hosts lecture, workshop El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 a.m. April 8 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
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But the club’s members didn’t lecture or advocate until 20 years after its 1876 founding.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The end of the parole program is part of Trump’s crackdown on legal immigration paths that allow people to temporarily come to the U.S. Republicans also criticized the parole program as an overreach and abuse of executive presidential power.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
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However, the commission's case, which was first filed in 2020, criticized Zuckerberg's media company of accumulating rivals as a way of preventing any competition in the social media industry.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Berate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/berate. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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