Advanced and Proficiency Vocabulary for Exams(e.g.GRE, Banks, Civil Services, SAT / LSAT). For IELTS/TOEFL, and everyday spoken vocabulary, go to our Spoken Vocabulary Database.
angrily criticize somebody
- How to Memorize
- berate - scold
- Analysis
When you harshly reprimand somebody with words then you ‘berate’ them. This is usually done by a person in authority to somebody who has made an error. However, while a talking-to might be deserved, this formal word implies going over the top with your criticism and being unnecessarily vicious.
- Example(s)
My boss decided to berate me for being late in front of the whole office. I was so embarrassed.
When I discovered that I had been swindled, I berated myself for having been so stupid as to believe that businessman.
I can’t believe that the waiter berated a customer like that! If I was his manager I would fire him immediately.
