Merriam - Webster Word of the day * Upbraid *

upbraid
verb
up·​braid ˌəp-ˈbrād
upbraided; upbraiding; upbraids



transitive verb
1
: to criticize severely : find fault with
2
: to reproach severely : scold vehemently
upbraider noun

Did you know?

First things first: do not confuse upbraid with topknot lest you be upbraided for it. Topknot is a noun referring to a hairstyle, while upbraid is a verb (and an ancient one at that) meaning “to criticize or scold severely.” However, it may soothe your pride to know that the braid in upbraid likely comes from the same source as our hirsutal verb braid, meaning “to do up (the hair) by interweaving three or more strands.” That source is the Old English word bregdan, which could be used to mean “to snatch,” “to move suddenly,” or “to plait,” i.e. “braid.” The Old English verb ūpbregdan is probably a combination of this bregdan with ūp, meaning “up.” If the connection between moving suddenly upward at someone and berating them seems obscure, you might consider upbraid to be a more formal counterpart of the expression “to get/be in someone’s face.”

Synonyms

   baste
   bawl out
   berate
   call down
   castigate
   chastise
   chew out
   dress down
   flay
   hammer
   jaw
   keelhaul
   lambaste
   lambast
   lecture
   rag
   rail (at or against)
   rant (at)
   rate
   ream (out)
   rebuke
   reprimand
   reproach
   scold
   score
   tongue-lash


Choose the Right Synonym for upbraid

scold, upbraid, berate, rail, revile, vituperate mean to reproach angrily and abusively.

scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.
angrily scolding the children

upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.
upbraided her assistants for poor research

berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.
berated continually by an overbearing boss

rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.
railed loudly at their insolence

revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.
an alleged killer reviled in the press

vituperate suggests a violent reviling.
was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences


his wife upbraided him for his irresponsible handling of the family finances
Recent Examples on the Web When audio leaked in late 2020 of Cruise upbraiding Mission: Impossible crew members for not following pandemic protocols, the overall reaction was less shock, more awe. —
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2023 International institutions have repeatedly upbraided Italy on this front. — Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 14 July 2023 In a scathing November 2020 ruling, L.A. Superior Court Judge William F. Fahey upbraided Adams for repeatedly racking up more in fees than the judge had authorized