scold

[skohld] / skoʊld /

VERB

find fault with

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

abuse asperse cavil chasten disparage expostulate lecture nag preach rail rate ream recriminate reprobate reprove revile vituperate

WEAK

dress down give a talking-to jump on keep aft lay down the law light into objurate put down rake over the coals take to task tell off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

applaud approve commend compliment exonerate flatter laud praise

STRONG

help honor

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.

"I really want to give it up. Every day I scold myself and tell myself to quit: no more, no more."

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

“My friends don’t care whether I have seven Golden Globes or if I’m not working at all. To them, I’m just Diego. They scold me and they help me just the same.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 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,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

“You are not to repeat those bad words, or you’ll get a mouth full of hot peppers,” she’d scold.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Vocabulary lists containing scold

Instead of "Said": Vexed Verbiage to Express Anger

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Curmudgeon, Cantankerous and Churlish: Grouchy Words

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Wasn't Me: The Lingo of Laying Blame

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