berating

American  

[bih-rey-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

Example Sentences

Top of Wooden’s list was an insistence that Close could succeed without berating players.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 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

The next day, a 2021 video emerged of Porter berating a staff member during a videoconference with a member of the Biden administration.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

Video footage shows Rivas and others berating the officers for complicity in what they called a “kidnapping.”

From Salon • Oct. 24, 2025

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

Related Words

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