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GRE vocabulary

berate

verbHigh-frequency wordMore B words

to scold or criticize someone angrily and at length

Word origin: From the intensifier be- plus rate, an archaic verb meaning to scold.

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In a sentence

Berate in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing berate in a sentence.

The manager berated the staff for missing the deadline.

The coach berated the referee so loudly that officials threatened to clear the stands.

Antonyms
praisecommend
Usage & nuance

Using “berate” well

Berate implies prolonged, angry scolding aimed at a person, not a measured criticism of an idea. The tone is harsher than reprove or correct.

Common questions

Questions about “berate

Berate (verb) means to scold or criticize someone angrily and at length
Here is berate used in an example sentence: "The manager berated the staff for missing the deadline." Another example: "The coach berated the referee so loudly that officials threatened to clear the stands."
Common synonyms for berate include scold, rebuke, upbraid, castigate.
Antonyms of berate include praise, commend.
Berate pairs with scold, rebuke, upbraid, and castigate. Its antonyms praise and commend mark the positive-sign answers to avoid when the sentence calls for reproach.
Yes. Berate is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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