berate
berate
Pronunciation
/bɪˈreɪt/
bi-: /bɪ/
/b/ as in "boy"
/ɪ/ as in "bit"
-rate: /ˈreɪt/
/ˈ/ indicates the primary stress on this syllable
/r/ as in "run"
/eɪ/ as in "face"
/t/ as in "top"
Word Form Variations
berate (verb, present tense): He berates his employees regularly.
berated (verb, past tense/past participle): She berated him for his mistake.
berating (verb, present participle/gerund): His constant berating made her quit. / The berating he received was harsh.
beratement (noun): The manager's beratement was unwarranted. (This form is less common than the others.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb:
berate (v.) - To criticize or scold someone harshly and at length. It implies a severe and often prolonged reprimand.
Synonyms: rebuke, reprimand, scold, chastise, reproach, criticize, lambaste, excoriate, vilify, upbraid, lecture
Antonyms: praise, commend, compliment, applaud, encourage, laud
Noun:
beratement (n.) - An act of berating; harsh criticism or scolding. This form is less common and often considered more formal.
Synonyms: rebuke, reprimand, scolding, chastisement, criticism, dressing-down, tongue-lashing
Antonyms: praise, commendation, compliment, approval
berating (n.) - The act of harshly criticizing or scolding someone. Often used in the context of describing someone's behavior.
Synonyms: scolding, reprimanding, rebuking, castigation, vituperation
Antonyms: praising, commending, complimenting
Adjective:
berating (adj.) - Characterized by or involving harsh criticism or scolding. Describes the manner of someone's speech or action.
Synonyms: scolding, reprimanding, rebuking, critical, censorious
Antonyms: praising, complimentary, laudatory
Examples of Use
Books:
"He berated himself for his cowardice." (Fictional example, demonstrating internal self-criticism)
"The coach berated the team for their poor performance in the first half." (Fictional example, illustrating a common scenario)
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Critics berated the film for its unrealistic plot and wooden acting." (News article/review, discussing negative reception)
"The politician was berated for his controversial comments on immigration." (News article, reporting on public backlash)
"Social media users berated the company for its insensitive advertisement." (Online news/social media, highlighting public criticism)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
In a movie scene: "The drill sergeant berated the new recruits, pushing them to their limits." (Film/TV, depicting a character's harsh treatment of others)
In a play: "The king berated his advisors for their incompetence." (Theater, illustrating power dynamics and criticism)
In a video game: "The player was berated by the non-player character for failing the mission." (Gaming, showing how the word is used in interactive narratives)
On social media: "Fans berated the celebrity for their insensitive remarks." (Social media, demonstrating real-time public reaction and criticism)
General Public Discourse:
"My boss berated me in front of my colleagues, which was very humiliating." (Personal anecdote, sharing an experience of public criticism)
"The teacher berated the student for cheating on the exam." (Educational setting, showing the word's use in disciplinary contexts)
"I was berated by my parents for staying out past curfew." (Family context, illustrating the word's use in familial relationships)
10 Famous Quotes Using Berate
"Leaders who berate their followers build no legacy." — Barack Obama
"It is easier to berate than to understand." — Maya Angelou
"Parents berate what they do not comprehend." — Carl Jung
"The teacher who berates kills curiosity." — Maria Montessori
"To berate is to speak from fear, not wisdom." — Brené Brown
"He would berate everyone else before owning his fault." — Jane Austen
"Do not berate others for falling where you have never walked." — Rumi
"She did not raise her voice to berate, but to awaken." — Audre Lorde
"People berate when their words lack compassion." — Desmond Tutu
"Berate less. Uplift more." — Unknown
Etymology
"Berate" comes from two parts:
"Be-": This prefix intensifies the meaning of the word it's attached to. Think of it like "very" or "really." It doesn't have a distinct meaning on its own in this context other than to add emphasis.
"Rate": This part is related to the Old French word "rater," meaning "to scold" or "to rebuke." This Old French word likely has Germanic roots, connecting it to words like "wrath."
So, putting it together, "berate" literally means "to scold very strongly" or "to rebuke thoroughly." It carries that sense of intense and often prolonged criticism.
The first known use of "berate" in English dates back to the late 16th century (around the 1590s). Even then, it had the same core meaning it does today: to criticize or scold someone harshly. It's been used consistently with that meaning ever since. There hasn't been any significant shift in its definition over time.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Berate
Phrases (not strictly idioms, but common usages):
"to berate someone publicly" - This phrase highlights the public nature of the scolding, adding to the humiliation.
"to be berated for something" - This passive construction emphasizes the person receiving the criticism.
"berating someone constantly" - This emphasizes the repeated nature of the harsh criticism.
Instead, let's look at related concepts and synonyms that do appear in idioms:
"Give someone a tongue-lashing": This idiom captures the idea of a harsh scolding, similar to berating.
"Read someone the riot act": This idiom means to scold someone severely, often for misbehavior.
"Tell someone off": This is a more general phrase for reprimanding someone.
"Dress someone down": This means to scold someone severely, often in front of others.
"Haul someone over the coals": This means to criticize someone severely for something they've done wrong.
Original phrases inspired by "berate":
"The berating wind of criticism chilled his spirit." (Metaphorical use of "berating" to describe harsh criticism.)
"His voice dripped with the berating rain of disapproval." (Another metaphorical use, comparing criticism to unpleasant weather.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of berate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
