berate

[bih-reyt]

See more synonyms for berate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), be·rat·ed, be·rat·ing.

to scold; rebuke: He berated them in public.

Origin of berate

First recorded in 1540–50; be- + rate²

Synonyms

See more synonyms for berate on Thesaurus.com

abuse, vilify, vituperate, objurgate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for berate

Contemporary Examples

Women are berated—and berate themselves—for dressing too sexily.
In Defense of Slut-O-Ween
Emily Shire
October 29, 2014
The old-school way of hating rubes asks us to berate them into giving up their identity out of shame and disgust.
From Smarm To Snark, We’re All Soldiers In The War On Obscurity
James Poulos
December 7, 2013
A purse can impress and intimidate, bewilder, berate, or amuse.
The Language of Margaret Thatcher’s Handbags
Robin Givhan
April 8, 2013
I'm not saying you should be an aggressive jerk, and berate your friends for thinking negative thoughts.
The Depressed Mind
David Frum
January 14, 2013
Rather than berate Mitt for the sin of being rich, he said he wanted a flatter tax so everyone could pay the “Romney rate.”
What If Newt Wins S.C.?
Howard Kurtz
January 19, 2012

Historical Examples

She had expected him to berate her for taking him for a spy and he had asked her to marry him.
Rebecca's Promise
Frances R. Sterrett
Dyckman was a spent and bankrupt object, and anybody could berate him.
We Can't Have Everything
Rupert Hughes
Even now, they had come forth upon the ramparts to berate her with her sin.
Superwomen
Albert Payson Terhune
And then, without waiting for the answer, he turned to the shepherd and began to berate him.
The Five Arrows
Allan Chase
One way to flatter some women is to berate those whom they despise or fear.
Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall
Charles Major

British Dictionary definitions for berate

berate

verb

(tr) to scold harshly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for berate

v.

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.

berate

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}berate

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for berate

Contemporary Examples

Women are berated—and berate themselves—for dressing too sexily.

The old-school way of hating rubes asks us to berate them into giving up their identity out of shame and disgust.

A purse can impress and intimidate, bewilder, berate, or amuse.

I'm not saying you should be an aggressive jerk, and berate your friends for thinking negative thoughts.

Rather than berate Mitt for the sin of being rich, he said he wanted a flatter tax so everyone could pay the “Romney rate.”

Historical Examples

She had expected him to berate her for taking him for a spy and he had asked her to marry him.

Dyckman was a spent and bankrupt object, and anybody could berate him.

Even now, they had come forth upon the ramparts to berate her with her sin.

And then, without waiting for the answer, he turned to the shepherd and began to berate him.

One way to flatter some women is to berate those whom they despise or fear.

berate

Word Origin and History for berate

v.

Origin of berate