scold

[ skohld ]

See synonyms for: scold scolded scolding scolder on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to find fault with angrily; chide; reprimand: The teacher scolded me for being late.

verb (used without object)

to find fault; reprove.
to use abusive language.

noun

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

Origin of scold

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

synonym study For scold

1. See reproach.

Other words for scold

1	reprove; censure

See synonyms for scold on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for scold

praise

See antonyms for scold on Thesaurus.com

Other words from scold

scold·a·ble, adjective
scolder, noun
scold·ing·ly, adverb
outscold, verb (used with object)
un·scold·ed, adjective

Words Nearby scold

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scold in a sentence

Activists scold us about which side of history we want to be on, never noticing that nobody agrees where the line is.
America’s Meddlers Are Our Worst Enemies | Stefan Beck | October 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Take for example, the reaction of Keith Olbermann, the reigning scold of sportslandia.
Forget the Wife Beating—Are You Ready for Some Football? | Steve Almond | September 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And then I wonder if I would be such a scold with my patients about any other issue.
Will This Pill Kill ‘Safe Sex’? | Russell Saunders | May 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Given a choice between the scoundrel and the scold, who might the people go for?
Bring on the Made-for-Reality-TV District Race Down South | Michelle Cottle | February 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The invitation from Peter Orlovsky provided an opportunity for her to scold Ginsberg once again.
The Mystery of the Allen Ginsberg-Diana Trilling Feud | Gregory Curtis | June 12, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

Remember how often you used to scold me for tangling the yarn, when you were spinning on the great wheel.
The World Before Them | Susanna Moodie
As soon as the old birds saw Josie and her mamma coming, they began to scold, and fly about in great alarm.
The Nursery, August 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 2 | Various
The frightened maid ceased to scold in her polyglot way and grew coherent.
The Weight of the Crown | Fred M. White
The old man became dreadfully angry, you may guess, and began to scold and curse in German.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange Kielland
I charge nothing for the lodging—only do not sit up late and burn up the candles, for Therese will scold.
Balsamo, The Magician | Alexander Dumas

British Dictionary definitions for scold

scold

/ (skəʊld) /

verb

to find fault with or reprimand (a person) harshly; chide
(intr) to use harsh or abusive language

noun

a person, esp a woman, who constantly finds fault

Origin of scold

C13: from Old Norse skald

Derived forms of scold

scoldable, adjective
scolder, noun
scolding, noun
scoldingly, adverb

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

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