berated

[bih-rey-tid] / bɪˈreɪ tɪd /

VERB

criticize hatefully

Synonyms

STRONGEST

castigate chide rebuke reprimand reproach revile scold upbraid

STRONG

blister censure chew jaw rate reprove scorch vituperate

WEAK

bawl out call down chew out cuss out eat out give one hell give what for jump all over rail at rake over the coals tell off tongue-lash

Antonyms

STRONGEST

compliment flatter laud praise

WEAK

hail

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.

See Examples For:

berated

Epstein berated Molchanova for not asking for a front-desk job.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

But none of the other journalists in the Oval Office with Holmes spoke up as the president berated her.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

In a documentary capturing the band's early days, external, the trainees were berated for posting photos from their dorms on social media.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

Pelley accused CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” the program and berated Bilton, a former New York Times journalist, for lacking TV news experience.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

He berated the ANC for failing to disclose the location of arms caches and then rebuked us for maintaining a “private army,” Umkhonto we Sizwe, in violation of the National Peace Accord of September 1991.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela