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Synonyms

berated

American

[bih-rey-tid] / bɪˈreɪ tɪd /

adjective

scolded or rebuked; criticized.

I get to my workplace all summer long using the city’s much berated public transportation system.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of criticize.

Etymology

Origin of berated

berate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has openly berated reporters during Pentagon briefings for using headlines the administration dislikes.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

Noem routinely berated staff if she saw Homan on TV and kept track of both their appearances to make sure she was on TV more than him, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

A man dressed as Batman berated officials in the California city set to host the Super Bowl next month over claims they could let ICE officers patrol the NFL championship game.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

“Jay Powell has been called names, has been berated, and has always not just kept his cool but kept his silence,” Bomfim said.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

The old man had never once berated him for Sabbath-breaking, never reminded him how often he had pointed out that pride goeth before a fall.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.