berating

[bih-rey-ting]

noun

1. the act or habit of scolding, rebuking, or harshly criticizing another.

   The player earned a red card for his constant berating of the referee.

adjective

1. scolding, rebuking, or harshly criticizing.

   When you talk to him about these behavioral issues, take care not to use a berating tone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of berating¹

First recorded in 1830–40; berat(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; berat(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

After the footage of her berating fellow councillors and using expletives was leaked to the Guardian earlier this month, Ms Kemkaran said the culprits had committed an act of "treachery".

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Video footage shows Rivas and others berating the officers for complicity in what they called a “kidnapping.”

Read more on Salon

The following day, a 2021 video emerged of Porter berating a staffer who corrected her about electric vehicle information she was discussing with a member of the Biden administration.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He then started berating Allensworth, seeming to ask him, “Are you a man?” more than once before leaning into the microphone behind the chair to address the crowd.

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The father had come to the son’s bedroom, and was berating his wife about a misplaced letter from an insurance company.

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Related Words

• admonition 
• censure 
• condemnation 
• disapproval 
• punishment 
• rebuff 
• reproach 
• snub