Thesaurus results for RAIL

Q: How does the verb 'rail' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rail are berate , revile , scold , upbraid , and vituperate . While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," rail ( at or against ) stresses an unrestrained berating. // railed loudly at their insolence

Q: When could 'berate' be used to replace 'rail'?

In some situations, the words berate and rail are roughly equivalent. However, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding. // berated continually by an overbearing boss

Q: When is it sensible to use 'revile' instead of 'rail'?

While the synonyms revile and rail are close in meaning, revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred. // an alleged killer reviled in the press

Q: When is 'scold' a more appropriate choice than 'rail'?

The words scold and rail can be used in similar contexts, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly. // angrily scolding the children

Q: When would 'upbraid' be a good substitute for 'rail'?

The words upbraid and rail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds. // upbraided her assistants for poor research

Q: In what contexts can 'vituperate' take the place of 'rail'?

The synonyms vituperate and rail are sometimes interchangeable, but vituperate suggests a violent reviling. // was vituperated for betraying his friends

rail 1 of 2

noun

ˈrāl

Definition of rail

as in railing

a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in road

a roadway overlaid with parallel steel rails over which trains travel an abandoned stretch of rail that was overgrown with brush

Synonyms & Similar Words

rail

2 of 2

verb

as in to rant

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rail differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rail are berate, revile, scold, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When could berate be used to replace rail?

In some situations, the words berate and rail are roughly equivalent. However, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When is it sensible to use revile instead of rail?

While the synonyms revile and rail are close in meaning, revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When is scold a more appropriate choice than rail?

The words scold and rail can be used in similar contexts, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When would upbraid be a good substitute for rail?

The words upbraid and rail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

In what contexts can vituperate take the place of rail?

The synonyms vituperate and rail are sometimes interchangeable, but vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of rail

Noun

Unbounder can also install roof rails for further cargo-hauling capability. — New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026 According to railway officials, the two main container terminals have only limited rail access. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Verb

Bannon rails against visas for skilled workers — not just undocumented immigrants. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 22 June 2026 First released in 2025, the song rails against how, over the past handful of years, people have fought for the sake of fighting, with no end in sight. — Daniel Kohn, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rail

Noun

Jaxson Flynt takes a careful step into the pool, reaching for the railing to steady himself.

— Ciara McCarthy October 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Kip comes slamming down the stairs, this huge mass barely staying upright by repeatedly grabbing the railing just in time.

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of railing

Noun

With the exception of the railroad bubble of the 1800s, once the market cap of the bubble stocks reaches 40% of the broader index, a crash soon follows, history shows.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026
The diagnosis exploded in popularity and was widely blamed on railroads, radios, telegraphs, newspapers, and the industrialization of the times.

— Kirsten Balin, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of railroad

Verb

Some neighbors fulminated against the university, arguing that the extra events would bring more noise and traffic, and that the property tax-exempt institution would not pay its fair share.

— Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Predictably, Khomeini fulminated about Carter’s visit.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

Definition of fulminate

Noun

Many voters thank him for pulling Serbia from economic obscurity and orchestrating a period of sustained modernisation including new highways, railways, schools and hospitals.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
Flood warnings are also in place, while airports, ferries, railways and roads have seen disruptions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of railway

Verb

In the American psyche, data centers have become so reviled that big tech can’t even pay residents life changing money to welcome the facilities into their backyards.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 15 Oct. 2026
He was admired by some as a charismatic statesman who put Italy on the world stage but reviled by others as a populist who used political power for personal gain.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of revile

Cite this Entry

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“Rail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rail. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rail

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verb

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Synonyms of rail

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing rail

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