verb
scold
SKOHLD
verb
1
To criticize someone sharply, usually for doing something wrong.
"The teacher scolded the students for talking during the test."
"She scolded her dog for digging up the garden."
noun
1
Old-fashioned: a person, especially a woman, who habitually nags or criticizes.
"In the old play, she is portrayed as a bitter scold who berates everyone around her."
How to Use Scold
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo tell someone off, usually a milder and more personal version of "reprimand," often used for parents correcting children.
Common pairings
scold a child
get scolded
scold someone for
Word Forms
scolds plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “scold”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The teacher _____ the students for talking during the test.
Etymology
The verb comes from Middle English scolden; the noun is older still, possibly linked to Old Norse skald, "poet" — since medieval poets sometimes wrote biting, insulting verses.