verb
chide
chyd
verb
1
To scold or express disapproval of someone, usually mildly.
"His mother chided him for tracking mud through the house."
"The coach chided the team for their sloppy passing."
How to Use Chide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo tell someone off gently, usually for a fairly small mistake.
Memory tip
Chiding is milder than yelling or scolding harshly — it often implies a caring undertone, like a parent correcting a child.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
gently chide
chide someone for
chide him/her
Word Forms
chid past tense, chided past tense, chode past tense, chidden past tense, chides singular
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His mother _____ him for tracking mud through the house.
Etymology
From Old English cīdan, meaning "to reproach or quarrel" — the word has kept roughly the same meaning for over a thousand years.