upbraiding

[uhp-brey-ding]

noun

1. the act or words of a person who upbraids; severe reproof or censure.

   an upbraiding from one's superiors.

adjective

1. severely reproachful or reproving; censorious.

   upbraiding remarks.

Other Word Forms

• upbraidingly adverb
• self-upbraiding noun
• unupbraiding adjective
• unupbraidingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of upbraiding¹

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; upbraid, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Following an uproar, that action was reversed within a day, but it raised suspicions that it was undertaken to punish Mainers for their Democratic governor’s public upbraiding of Trump at a Washington meeting.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That sort of upbraiding from a judge before trial has even begun should chill any trial lawyer to the bone.

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“Some of those folks deserved an upbraiding,” said Dr. Gillespie, 44, the Emory professor.

Read more on New York Times

His critics say he’s made a career of upbraiding Black people to white audiences.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another video shows Matsumoto upbraiding a man in a white van.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

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