UPBRAID Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'upbraid' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of upbraid are berate , rail , revile , scold , and vituperate . While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds. // upbraided her assistants for poor research

Q: When might 'berate' be a better fit than 'upbraid'?

Although the words berate and upbraid have much in common, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding. // berated continually by an overbearing boss

Q: When would 'rail' be a good substitute for 'upbraid'?

The words rail and upbraid can be used in similar contexts, but rail ( at or against ) stresses an unrestrained berating. // railed loudly at their insolence

Q: Where would 'revile' be a reasonable alternative to 'upbraid'?

The synonyms revile and upbraid are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred. // an alleged killer reviled in the press

Q: When is it sensible to use 'scold' instead of 'upbraid'?

While in some cases nearly identical to upbraid , scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly. // angrily scolding the children

Q: When can 'vituperate' be used instead of 'upbraid'?

The words vituperate and upbraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vituperate suggests a violent reviling. // was vituperated for betraying his friends

upbraid

verb

ˌəp-ˈbrād

Definition of upbraid

as in to scold

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings his wife upbraided him for his irresponsible handling of the family finances

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb upbraid differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of upbraid are berate, rail, revile, scold, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

When might berate be a better fit than upbraid?

Although the words berate and upbraid have much in common, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When would rail be a good substitute for upbraid?

The words rail and upbraid can be used in similar contexts, but rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

Where would revile be a reasonable alternative to upbraid?

The synonyms revile and upbraid are sometimes interchangeable, but revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When is it sensible to use scold instead of upbraid?

While in some cases nearly identical to upbraid, scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When can vituperate be used instead of upbraid?

The words vituperate and upbraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of upbraid The Galaxy keeper turned and appeared to upbraid his defenders before clapping and trying to rally his team. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026 At a hearing two days after the government dropped its charges against Baraka, the judge upbraided Stephen Demanovich, a federal prosecutor who had been assigned the case. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026 In a blistering memo circulated around the agency before he was laid off in late summer, Frantz upbraided political leaders. — Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 17 Dec. 2025 During cross-examination, he was upbraided for long answers that did not immediately answer the question he had been asked. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for upbraid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upbraid

Verb

The curious boys climbed onto the roof of their home for a better look, but climbed back down when scolded by their grandmother.

— Rina Nakano, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Rather than scolding parents about screens, society could do more to support families in ways that obviate the need for screen time.

— Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of scold

Verb

Rangel, who relinquished his position as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee amid the inquiry, was eventually censured, the first time a congressman had been thusly reprimanded in public in almost three decades.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
She was vilified and reprimanded for ACTUALLY taking a courageous stance against men in women’s sports and spaces.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of reprimand

Verb

Chief Critic Democratic Party consultant and former President Barack Obama’s ex-campaign adviser David Axelrod criticized the White House’s decision to use the old plane as a decoy with journalists on board.

— Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
The two lawmakers have intensely criticized Fauci over the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic for years, with Paul recently releasing diary entries penned by Fauci during the height of the pandemic.

— Joe Walsh, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticize

Browse Nearby Words

upbeat

upbraid

upbraided

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Upbraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upbraid. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of upbraid

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Challenging Standardized Test Words

9 Ways to Criticize

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on upbraid

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of upbraid

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to upbraid

Challenging Standardized Test Words

9 Ways to Criticize

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on upbraid

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes