Rather than berate Mitt for the sin of being rich, he said he wanted a flatter tax so everyone could pay the “Romney rate.”
The old-school way of hating rubes asks us to berate them into giving up their identity out of shame and disgust.
I'm not saying you should be an aggressive jerk, and berate your friends for thinking negative thoughts.
A purse can impress and intimidate, bewilder, berate, or amuse.
Women are berated—and berate themselves—for dressing too sexily.
Going to one of them, the one who had declared his intention of joining the union, Jim began to berate him.
She had expected him to berate her for taking him for a spy and he had asked her to marry him.
And the men drop in to talk over plans and berate the Governor because things are not in better shape.
Dyckman was a spent and bankrupt object, and anybody could berate him.
Is this the source of your inspiration when you berate your betters?
1540s, from be- "thoroughly" + Middle English rate "to scold" (late 14c.), from Old French reter "accuse, blame," from Latin reputare (see reputation). "Obsolete except in U.S." [OED 1st ed.], but it seems to have revived in Britain 20c. Related: Berated; berating.
