scold

American  

[skohld] / skoʊld /

verb (used with object)

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

   The teacher scolded me for being late.

   Synonyms:

   censure, reprove

   Antonyms:

   praise

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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 British  

/ skəʊld /

verb

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

2. (intr) to use harsh or abusive language

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noun

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

Usage

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.

Related Words

See reproach.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

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

Explanation

When you scold someone, you (often angrily) point out and criticize some fault or error. If you forget again to clean up your room, your mom might scold you for it. Scold can also be used as a noun to describe a person who irritates people by finding fault in everything. Your great aunt Merna, who during the holidays complains about her gifts, criticizes your weight, says the turkey is too dry, and the stuffing is soggy? She's a scold. Maybe she's cranky. Which brings us to the other way we can use scold as a verb: to grumble, grouch, or generally express one's crankiness. This latter meaning has more to do with the attitude of the scolder than the faults of the one being scolded.

Example Sentences

She has the spine to hold her own against him, but it’s hard to play withholding, particularly when the film needs her character to be both the voice of reason and a politically correct scold.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

As Mr. Clark tells us, an allegation against the pastors was set in motion in 1835 by Count Finck von Finckenstein, a nasty moral scold and the villain of the story.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

‘You can’t degrade the travel experience for decades and then scold people for dressing to endure the experience.’

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

Kelly went on to scold Poehler for a brief moment during the episode when Poehler erroneously thought Paltrow starred in the 2003 drama, “Cold Mountain,” saying that the mistake was “embarrassing and disrespectful.”

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2026

By lunch I’ve convinced myself that the meeting is to scold the team for giving up on raising money for my leg, and I walk into Kyro’s room feeling dread.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

Related Words

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