scold

[ skohld ]
See synonyms for: scoldscoldedscoldingscolder on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to find fault with angrily; chide; reprimand: The teacher scolded me for being late.

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.

Origin of scold

1
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

Opposites for scold

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. 2024

How to use scold in a sentence

  • 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 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
  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

Origin of scold

1
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