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Glite Dictionary
to bawl out

to bawl out

6.7
Shout loudly at someone because they did something wrong
  • phrasal verb
  • /bɔl aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : gritarle a
  • I got bawled out for writing a story on mugging.

Examples

  • "I am not a beast!" he bawled out, his face in the earth, his pointed horn-talons digging into the earth.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Even before you heard the train whistle, one hound would bawl out and hold his note till the whistle blew.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • This next guy who bawled out the other day, his name is Kyle Van Noy, and I prays for the Patriots as well.

  • I got bawled out for making a mistake at work.

  • The coach bawled out the players for their poor performance during the game.

  • When he arrived late, his mother bawled out him for not being responsible.

Synonyms

to yell at
vsto bawl out
379 1.4

Shout in an angry voice at someone

adds harsher severity and explicit reprimanding rather than just shouting
to lecture
vsto bawl out
89 4.6

To give someone a long serious talk that warns or scolds them about what they did

is shorter and more loudly severe without extended lecturing
to lash out
vsto bawl out
71 5.6

Suddenly say angry things about someone by speaking or writing

is planned or sustained loud scolding rather than a sudden outburst
to scold
vsto bawl out
55 2.2

Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong

adds a louder, more forceful and intense tone
to berate
vsto bawl out
36 7.2

Scold someone angrily and severely

is often louder and delivered with greater severity
to reprimand
vsto bawl out
  • Formal
33 6.1

To tell someone they did something wrong, usually by a person in charge

is less formal and more loudly severe in personal anger
to rebuke
vsto bawl out
  • Formal
26 6.9

To tell someone firmly that you do not approve of their actions

is less official and more loudly emphatic and severe
to chide
vsto bawl out
22 7.0

Tell someone you are unhappy with what they did

is louder and much more severe in tone and force
to take to task
vsto bawl out
18 6.3

To scold someone strongly for a mistake

is louder and more directly aggressive in tone
to chew out
vsto bawl out
  • Informal
13 7.0

Scold someone angrily in front of others

is typically louder and even more severe in delivery
to lambast
vsto bawl out
12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is usually louder and more directly aimed at the person
to harangue
vsto bawl out
7 8.9

To speak angrily to someone for a long time

is more brief and loudly harsh rather than long and forceful
to call on the carpet
vsto bawl out
  • Archaic
3 7.9

To tell someone strongly that they have done something wrong, often in front of others

is more personal and delivered with loud anger rather than formality
to dress down
vsto bawl out
  • Informal
3 6.3

To angrily tell someone they did something wrong

is louder and more emotionally forceful rather than just formal
to chew up
vsto bawl out
  • Informal
2 7.1

To scold someone angrily and severely

is usually louder and more forceful when speaking
to tear (someone) a new one
vsto bawl out
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To scold someone angrily

is similarly severe but typically framed as a loud personal scold
to lambaste
vsto bawl out
1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is more about loud private scolding than public critique
to call down
vsto bawl out
  • Informal
1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is louder and more emotionally intense when confronting someone
to chap someone's hide
vsto bawl out
  • Informal
9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

is similarly angry but typically louder and more forceful
to give an earful
vsto bawl out
  • Informal
7.7

Angrily tell someone they did something wrong

is shorter and sharper while still being loud and severe

Antonyms

compliment
342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

praise
161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Harsh

to berate
36 7.2
to bawl out
  • Informal
6.7
to reprimand
  • Formal
33 6.1
to scold
55 2.2
to chide
22 7.0

Surface Forms

bawl out infinitive
bawled out past
bawled out past participle
bawling out present participle
bawls out third person singular

Morphology

bawl + out

The verb 'bawl' means to cry or yell very loudly, so 'bawl out' is compositionally predictable as 'to shout at someone' — i.e., to scold or reprimand loudly. This follows common English verb+particle patterns (verb + out adding force/direction) and would be inferable by a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Bawl out comes from the word bawl, which means to shout or cry loudly, and out, which makes the action stronger. Picture someone loudly shouting at another person so everyone can hear; that's why bawl out means 'to scold someone loudly'.