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to upbraid

to upbraid

3 8.8
To scold someone strongly for something they did wrong
  • verb
  • /ʌpˈbreɪd/
  • Formal
translation icon : reprochar
  • Adams upbraided men for blindly following convention and being too "timid" to think for themselves.

Examples

  • Mr. Cowan, it is incredibly frustrating to be continually upbraided for something that we, ourselves, admitted was a mistake.

  • "Rather than upbraid her about her attendance, I said, 'Jolene, is something wrong?'"

    Academic text (2004)
  • Lillian never upbraided me for leaving her.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • When Daniel's critics upbraided him for too much revising, he told them to get lost.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Censure: The military tribunal upbraided the soldier for his cowardice.

    Blog text (2)
  • Paul is upbraided for having sullied Margot's good name, "one honored in his country's history" (159).

    Academic text (2000)
  • The teacher had to upbraid the student for not completing his homework on time.

  • She was upbraiding him for being late to the meeting again.

  • The coach upbraided the players for their lack of effort during practice.

Synonyms

to scold
vsto upbraid
55 2.2

Speak angrily to someone who has done something wrong

is a stronger, formal version used for severe reproach
to let him have it
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
44 8.1

To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is a standard severe scold without the idiomatic tone
to give someone hell
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
37 8.1

To scold someone very strongly for something they did

is mainly about verbal reprimand rather than actual punishment
to come down
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
37 5.9

To criticize someone strongly

is more neutral, describing severe criticism without phrasing
to berate
vsto upbraid
36 7.2

Scold someone angrily and severely

is similar but can be used without overt anger
to chastise
vsto upbraid
  • Formal
33 7.6

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

is more neutral, focusing on severe criticism rather than correction
to rebuke
vsto upbraid
  • Formal
26 6.9

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

is less formal and not necessarily an official reprimand
to revile
vsto upbraid
  • Offensive
23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

is used for direct severe scolding rather than prolonged insult
to chide
vsto upbraid
22 7.0

Tell someone you are unhappy with what they did

is stronger and more severe than mild disapproval
to take to task
vsto upbraid
18 6.3

To scold someone strongly for a mistake

is broader and not always tied to a particular fault
to scorch
vsto upbraid
15 7.3

To severely criticize someone or something

is plain severe scolding aimed at a person's actions, not only denunciation
to castigate
vsto upbraid
  • Formal
14 8.8

To criticize or punish someone very harshly

is focused on scolding behaviour, not formal punishment
to chew out
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
13 7.0

Scold someone angrily in front of others

is more formal and not necessarily angry or private
to lambast
vsto upbraid
12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is mainly a direct reproach of personal behaviour, private or public
to let someone have it
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
11 8.1

To angrily tell someone off

is simply severe reproach without the colloquial forcefulness
to excoriate
vsto upbraid
  • Literature
9 9.8

To criticize someone or something very harshly in public

is narrower, relating to direct scolding of a person's actions
to blister
vsto upbraid
9 8.1

To attack someone with very strong words

is used for strong rebuke with less focus on verbal attack
to reproach
vsto upbraid
8 6.5

To tell someone you are disappointed in what they did

is harsher, moving from disappointment to severe scolding
to harangue
vsto upbraid
7 8.9

To speak angrily to someone for a long time

is usually a short severe reprimand, not a long speech
to give someone the business
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
5 8.3

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is the standard term without the blunt informal tone
to rake over the coals
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
4 7.9

Scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is used for any severe scolding, not necessarily prolonged
to chew up
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
2 7.1

To scold someone angrily and severely

is similar but can be used in formal contexts as well
to tear (someone) a new one
vsto upbraid
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To scold someone angrily

is a formal severe criticism, not necessarily vulgar or intense
to give someone what for
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
1 8.7

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is more formal and not inherently idiomatic
to lambaste
vsto upbraid
1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is focused on personal scolding rather than public denunciation
to scald
vsto upbraid
1 8.1

To criticize someone or something very harshly

is mainly for reprimanding a person's behaviour directly
to call down
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is not confined to face-to-face confrontations
to haul over the coals
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
1 8.6

To scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is general severe criticism, not only tied to mistakes
to hit out at
vsto upbraid
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

is more about direct personal reproach than public criticism
to chap someone's hide
vsto upbraid
  • Informal
9.3

To scold someone angrily for something they did

is severe but not necessarily expressed with anger
to throw brickbats
vsto upbraid
  • Literature
8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

is not limited to public attack and fits private reprimands
to vituperate
vsto upbraid
  • Offensive
9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is more about measured severe criticism, not abusive insult
to clapperclaw
vsto upbraid
  • Offensive
9.9

To attack someone with angry words

is less about verbal abuse and more about formal rebuke
to light someone's ass up
vsto upbraid
  • Offensive
9.9

To angrily tell someone they did something wrong, often in front of others

is the neutral severe scold without crude or slang expression
to get on someone's grill
vsto upbraid
  • Slang
9.9

To tell someone angrily that you do not like what they did

is less confrontational and may be formal or private

Antonyms

67 4.4

To praise someone or something for good work

How Harsh

to lambaste
1 8.0
to berate
36 7.2
to upbraid
  • Formal
3 8.8
to reprimand
  • Formal
33 6.1
to scold
55 2.2
to chide
22 7.0

Surface Forms

upbraid infinitive
upbraided past
upbraided past participle
upbraiding present participle
upbraids third person singular

Etymology

Upbraid comes from an old idea of bringing a complaint 'up' against someone, so think of up- as 'up' and braid as the part that shows a rebuke. That's why to upbraid someone is to scold them strongly.