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

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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

Tired of Luann’s antics already, Porsha chats with the other women during it, and Luann doesn’t just yell at her from the stage but walks into the crowd to scold her face-to-face into the microphone. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026 In 2024, a judge scolded both sides for excessive litigation and ruled for the trust to be dissolved and for the house to be sold. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 25 Sep. 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

She was reprimanded by the House Rules and Ethics Committee for her stunt with the bullhorn.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
My mother reprimanded me for taking a sip from a cocktail glass without first removing the little plastic swizzle stick that often comes in a drink.

— Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of reprimand

Noun

The festival’s advisory group includes director Dan Löwenstein, founder of House of Create, vertical drama critic and consultant Jen Cooper of Vertical Drama Love, and Christine Hartland, co-founder and chief operating officer of My Smash Media.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Yet the latest proposal seems to undercut some of those achievements, according to its critics.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of critic

Verb

But the Amazon and Blue Origin founder argues that some politicians are blaming the wrong culprit.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
Jason Jimenez said the county coroner’s death report found the cause of death to be cocaine toxicity and did not place blame on the officers.

— Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 12 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

scolded

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“Scold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scold. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of scold

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