to scald

Examples

• All

• Though often my frank observation might scald, I've been meaning to tell you for years you should keep your hair natural like mine.

  Mame (1974)

• "What options?" Roz said in a scalding tone.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Don't scald him!

  Aladdin (2019)

• Behind him, his partner teed off, did some creative body language as he watched the ball sail left of the fairway, then threw his club down and directed a scalding critique at the heavens.

  Fiction book (1999)

• The critic's review strongly scalded the author's latest book, calling it a series of unoriginal ideas.

• After the public outcry, the journalist scalded the company's unethical practices in her article.

• His harsh comments scalded the team's morale, leaving everyone feeling discouraged and undervalued.

Synonyms

B

to blast

vsto scald

• Literature

61 5.3

To strongly criticize someone in public

is severe criticism but not defined by loudness or force

S

to scold

vsto scald

55 2.2

Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong

is harsher and more severe than this angry reprimand

G

to give someone hell

vsto scald

• Informal

37 8.1

To scold someone very strongly for something they did

is severe criticism that may be less about active punishment

R

to rebuke

vsto scald

• Formal

26 6.9

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

is harsher and more emotionally severe than this official disapproval

S

to scorch

vsto scald

15 7.3

To severely criticize someone or something

is severe criticism without necessarily strong public denunciation

C

to castigate

vsto scald

• Formal

14 8.8

To criticize or punish someone very harshly

is severe reproach but may lack the punishment aspect

L

to lambast

vsto scald

12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is harsh too but can be less emotional in tone

F

to flame

vsto scald

• Offensive

11 7.8

To send angry, insulting messages to someone online

is harsh criticism but not limited to online environments

E

to excoriate

vsto scald

• Literature

9 9.8

To criticize someone or something very harshly in public

is severe criticism but not limited to public or formal settings

B

to blister

vsto scald

9 8.1

To attack someone with very strong words

is harsh criticism but may not imply sustained verbal assault

H

to harsh on

vsto scald

• Informal

7 5.8

Criticize someone in a very unkind way

is severe criticism but not necessarily unkind beyond strict severity

S

to skin someone alive

vsto scald

• Offensive

6 8.8

To scold or punish someone severely to show strong anger, not a real action

is severe criticism without the vivid imagined punishment image

R

to rake over the coals

vsto scald

• Informal

4 7.9

Scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is severe criticism but not focused on reviewing past actions

P

to put on blast

vsto scald

• Offensive

3 9.5

Say bad things about someone in public to show others what they did

is severe criticism but not defined by public shaming

U

to upbraid

vsto scald

• Formal

3 8.8

To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong

is more severe and harsher than this direct reprimand

L

to lambaste

vsto scald

1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is equally severe but not always public or attention seeking

H

to haul over the coals

vsto scald

• Informal

1 8.6

To scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is equally severe but not always tied to rule breaking

V

to vituperate

vsto scald

• Offensive

9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is harsh criticism but not always abusive in tone

R

to read to filth

vsto scald

• Offensive

9.9

Strongly insult someone in front of others to embarrass them

is harsh criticism but not specifically about ruthless insult

C

to chap someone's hide

vsto scald

• Informal

9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

is more severe and harsher than this angry reprimand

C

to clapperclaw

vsto scald

• Offensive

9.9

To attack someone with angry words

is harsh criticism but may be less about verbal abuse

Antonyms

C

compliment

342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

P

praise

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Harsh

to lambaste

1 8.0

to scald

1 8.1

to rebuke

• Formal

26 6.9

to criticize

701 3.3

to admonish

31 6.8

Surface Forms

Etymology