SCOLD Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of scold are berate , rail , revile , upbraid , and vituperate . While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly. // angrily scolding the children

Q: When would 'berate' be a good substitute for 'scold'?

The meanings of berate and scold largely overlap; however, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding. // berated continually by an overbearing boss

Q: When can 'rail' be used instead of 'scold'?

The words rail and scold are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rail ( at or against ) stresses an unrestrained berating. // railed loudly at their insolence

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

The synonyms revile and scold are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred. // an alleged killer reviled in the press

Q: When could 'upbraid' be used to replace 'scold'?

While the synonyms upbraid and scold are close in meaning, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds. // upbraided her assistants for poor research

Q: Where would 'vituperate' be a reasonable alternative to 'scold'?

While in some cases nearly identical to scold , vituperate suggests a violent reviling. // was vituperated for betraying his friends

scold 1 of 2

verb

ˈskōld

Definition of scold

as in to reprimand

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings he scolded the kids for not cleaning up the mess they had made in the kitchen

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scold

2 of 2

noun

as in faultfinder

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb scold differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scold are berate, rail, revile, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When would berate be a good substitute for scold?

The meanings of berate and scold largely overlap; however, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When can rail be used instead of scold?

The words rail and scold are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When is revile a more appropriate choice than scold?

The synonyms revile and scold are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When could upbraid be used to replace scold?

While the synonyms upbraid and scold are close in meaning, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

Where would vituperate be a reasonable alternative to scold?

While in some cases nearly identical to scold, 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 scold

Verb

Others criticized Anderson for seemingly scolding fans and trying to tell them where to sit. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 Now the older generation is scolding workers for having a different view on interview etiquette without recognizing the cold reality of today’s job market. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

His showdowns with the head of the local diocese, played as a puckish scold by Malcolm McDowell, are some of the best in the film. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2022 When Roger Goodell suspended Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for at least one full season for betting on NFL games, the commissioner was very careful with the wording of his official scold. — Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2022 See All Example Sentences for scold

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scold

Verb

Mandell was later formally reprimanded for allowing another client’s hearing to be delayed by six years, during which time two witnesses died.

— Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026
The Denver school board censured director Monica Hunter on Thursday night, the third time in five years that the governing body of Colorado’s largest K-12 district has publicly reprimanded a colleague.

— Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of reprimand

Verb

At a time when everyone is asking where men fit in, this film doesn’t lecture.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026
Respondents in England and Australia were more likely to associate teaching with institutional, credentialed and paid professional roles, such as nursing, lecturing and social work.

— Gustavo E. Fischman, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lecture

Noun

Purges of officials -- including some viewed as his political rivals -- have been carried out on a scale that led critics to argue the campaign was also used to consolidate his power.

— KANIS LEUNG, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Its inaugural recipient is Japanese film critic and international cinema advocate Sahoko Hata, whose career helped introduce landmark European films to Japanese audiences.

— Gavin Blair, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of critic

Verb

Vance has neither criticized his friend nor publicly nudged Carlson to temper what’s been harsh criticism of Israel — and Trump’s cultivation of the Netanyahu government.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
At an October debate, Bass pointed out that Raman, as chair of the city council’s housing and homelessness committee, had repeatedly approved spending on Inside Safe, the very program Raman now criticizes as expensive and insufficiently accountable.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticize

Verb

That set off the wave of youth protests that blamed the collapse on high-level corruption and cronyism during renovation work at the station.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Anything this pair does for the next several months that is not together will be scrutinized, dissected, interpreted, and ESPN can only blame itself.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of blame

Noun

In addition to Brecht’s typical didacticism, there is a haunting passage for a fishwife whose son died in one of Lucullus’s campaigns.

— Seth Colter Walls, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2020
An old fishwife sees a lobster try to escape and whacks it back in with her net.

— Casey Quackenbush / Hong Kong, Time, 12 July 2018

Definition of fishwife

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“Scold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scold. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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