verb

berate

bih-RAYT

Berate (verb) means to scold someone harshly and at length. Example: “Her boss berated her in front of the whole team for the missed deadline.”

verb

To scold someone harshly and at length.

"Her boss berated her in front of the whole team for the missed deadline."

"He berated himself for forgetting his mother's birthday."

How to use berate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo tell someone off angrily, usually going on about it rather than a quick word.

Common mistake

Berate always implies harsh, sustained criticism — it is stronger than "correct" or "criticize" and usually carries anger.

Common pairings

berate someone for berate himself publicly berated

Word forms

berated past tense, berates singular

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Fill the gap

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Her boss _____ her in front of the whole team for the missed deadline.

Etymology

From be- (an intensifying prefix) plus rate, an old verb meaning "to scold" — so berate literally means to rate someone down hard.

Synonyms

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lecture jaw rag rebuke scold chide reprimand trounce reproof chew up lambast bawl out

Related words

defeat lesson bother sheet punishment dispute crush lecture

Rhymes for berate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

See all rhymes for berate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “berate” mean?

The word “berate” means to scold someone harshly and at length. In plain terms, to tell someone off angrily, usually going on about it rather than a quick word.

How do you pronounce “berate”?

“Berate” is pronounced bih-RAYT (/bɪˈɹeɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “berate” in a sentence?

Here is “berate” used in a sentence: “Her boss berated her in front of the whole team for the missed deadline.”

What part of speech is “berate”?

“Berate” is a verb.

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