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

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab added that it was investigating images and videos "allegedly showing RSF shooting at people crawling away from them and berating and using ethnic slurs".

From BBC

The first minister's security team is reported to have aided in retaining people from berating Swinney on the stage.

From BBC

His children, Kelly and Jack, vacillated between showering him with affection and berating him for not catering to their whims.

From Salon

Related Words

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