berate
Verbally tear apart
To berate is to scold harshly and at length, usually from a position of authority or moral superiority: The coach berated the players for their sloppy performance.
The word implies sustained verbal attack rather than brief criticism—a tongue-lashing that goes on and on.
Reprimand severely
- lambasteScold with ferocity
- upbraidCriticize harshly, verbally
- chastiseReprimand severely for wrongdoing
- excoriateSeverely criticize or censure
vituperate · denounce · censure · reprimand · admonish · reproach · chide · rebuke
Claim someone did wrong
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- disparageExpress low opinion of
scapegoat · revile · defame · smear · impugn · malign · traduce · calumniate
Detailed evaluative analysis
- nitpickFind petty faults
- faultImperfection or blame
- panShallow cooking vessel
- slamForceful impact or closure
trash · tear apart · pick apart · find fault · harsh words · disapproval · condemnation · excoriation
castigate
Reprimand severely
- lambasteScold with ferocity
- upbraidCriticize harshly, verbally
- chastiseReprimand severely for wrongdoing
excoriate · vituperate · denounce · censure · reprimand · admonish · reproach · chide · rebuke · scold
yell
Speak very loudly
holler · shriek · rant · rave · tirade · outburst · fulminate · thunder · roar · rage
accuse
Claim someone did wrong
disparage · scapegoat · revile · defame · smear · impugn · malign · traduce · calumniate · inveigh
critique
Detailed evaluative analysis
slam · trash · tear apart · pick apart · find fault · harsh words · disapproval · condemnation · excoriation · denunciation
- rebukescold, reprimand, chide, admonish, upbraid
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, reprimand, nagging
- tauntstaunts, taunt, taunting, neener neener, insults
- confrontationsargue, fight, clash, quarrel, dispute
- disapprovaldisapproval, scowl, disapprove, disapproves, frown
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment