Scold

/skoʊld/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to reprimand someone angrily or with disapproval.

The teacher scolded the students for talking during the lesson.

to criticize or rebuke someone for their actions.

She scolded her dog for chewing on the furniture.

to express discontent or annoyance at someone's behavior.

He often scolds his children for not cleaning up after themselves.

to speak to someone in an angry or critical way.

The parent scolded the child for running in the house.

Middle English 'scolden', from Old Norse 'skalda', meaning 'to accuse' or 'to rebuke'.

scold like a fishwife

To scold in a very loud and harsh manner.

scolding tone

A tone of voice used to reprimand someone.

to scold someone black and blue

To scold someone harshly and thoroughly.

rebuke

To criticize someone sharply.

discipline

To train someone to obey rules or a code of behavior.

To give someone a hard time.

She was just scolding me over nothing!

To lay into someone.

My mom really laid into me for not cleaning my room.