verb
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to reprove or reproach angrily
-
to find fault with
Related Words
See reprimand.
Other Word Forms
- unupbraided adjective
- upbraider noun
- upbraiding noun
- upbraidingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of upbraid
before 1000; Middle English; Old English upbrēdan to adduce as a fault. See up-, braid
Explanation
No, upbraid isn’t an elaborate hairdo. When you upbraid people, you scold them, tell them off, and criticize them. (You could, however, upbraid your stylist after a bad haircut.) The word upbraid comes from the Old English word upbregdan, which literally means "bring up quickly." Although this word doesn't have anything to do with hair, upbraid and braid are, in fact, related. The original meaning of braid was "to move quickly from side to side," which is what you do with your fingers when you're braiding someone's hair. When you upbraid someone, you're quickly bringing up different reasons why you're mad at them.
Vocabulary lists containing upbraid
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Andy Hertzfeld, a charter member of Apple’s Macintosh development team, recalled being summoned to a meeting called by Jobs to upbraid Gates over Microsoft’s plans for the Windows display.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
Since then she has continued to upbraid Mr Trump.
From BBC • May 11, 2021
It’s understandable to have complicated needs and feelings even in the wake of great grief, and I don’t want you to upbraid yourself when you already feel a sense of guilt.
From Slate • Jun. 1, 2020
He was trying in a Judiciary Committee hearing today to upbraid Neomi Rao, the lawyer nominated to the D.C.
From Fox News • Feb. 5, 2019
Whenever he walked into my presence I became silent, waiting for him to speak, wondering if he were going to upbraid me for something.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
