scold

[skohld]

verb (used with object)

1. to find fault with angrily; chide; reprimand.

   The teacher scolded me for being late.

   Synonyms: censure, reprove
   Antonyms: praise

verb (used without object)

1. to find fault; reprove.

2. to use abusive language.

noun

1. a person who is constantly scolding, often with loud and abusive speech.

2. common scold.

scold

/ skəʊld /

verb

1. to find fault with or reprimand (a person) harshly; chide

2. (intr) to use harsh or abusive language

noun

1. a person, esp a woman, who constantly finds fault

Other Word Forms

• scoldingly adverb
• scolder noun
• scolding noun
• scoldable adjective
• outscold verb (used with object)
• unscolded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scold¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; (noun) Middle English, variant of scald, from Old Norse skald “poet” (as author of insulting poems); skald; (verb) Middle English scolden, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scold¹

C13: from Old Norse _skald

Synonym Study

See reproach.

Example Sentences

One Japanese mother, who didn’t want to be named, said she was scolded by her husband for considering an epidural when their baby was almost due in 2021.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But Keynesian economists and Ministry of Finance scolds will oppose supply-side tax reform.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In his Instagram post about the incident, O’Keefe alleged that a friend of the woman who scolded his manner of sitting told him, “You’re not the minority anymore.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When finally she ran out of the henhouse with the exciting news, her mother did not scold her but patiently listened to her daughter’s account of her first scientific observation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A state court overseeing the case scolded Bailey’s office in a hearing, saying, “I would suggest you never do that.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• admonish 
• berate 
• blame 
• castigate 
• censure 
• chide 
• criticize 
• denounce 
• rebuke 
• reprimand 
• reproach 
• taunt 
• upbraid 
• vilify 

When To Use

What does scold mean?

Scold means to angrily or harshly tell someone that they've said or done something you think is wrong, often with the intent of making them feel bad about it so that they don't do it againA person may scold both other people and animals when they do something wrong. When it comes to people, it is often adults scolding children.The noun scold refers to a person who frequently judges other people or points out their faults. This sense of the word is almost always used negatively to imply that such a person scolds too much or is often angry.Example: My dad scolded my dog after it chewed up the couch.