Showing results for "berating"

• present participle of berate.

berating

American  

[bih-ray-ting] / bɪˈreɪ tɪŋ /

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.

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adjective

1. scolding, rebuking, or harshly criticizing.

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

Etymology

Origin of berating

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

berating

"I started to feel guilty and started berating myself internally for it all."

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Porter slightly rebounded after a dip in polling in the fall after videos emerged of her berating an aide and a reporter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026

Then as now, Martin chose a polite but firm approach to Trump, who spent much of the question-and-answer session berating US allies for rebuffing his calls to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

From Barron's ● Mar. 17, 2026

Since Takaichi’s remark on Taiwan in November, Beijing’s retaliation has included berating Tokyo at the United Nations, canceling flights to Japan and tightening export controls on goods with potential military uses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 13, 2026

Tears were running down her face, she was already berating God for taking her husband from her, but on the other side of these proper emotions was an altogether improper relief.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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Related Words

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

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