UPBRAIDED Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

upbraided

verb

past tense of upbraid

as in scolded

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

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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 upbraided One upbraided Tufty for this comment. — Eric Adler june 4, Kansas City Star, 4 June 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upbraided

Verb

In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
For over a year, the White House has scolded and threatened the Smithsonian.

— Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolded

Verb

Luann patiently attempts to explain that the women don’t like being lectured to about their business affairs, only for Vicki to abruptly answer a phone call mid-conversation.

— Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
We’re also lectured early on that Cole is a chess master, but his alleged intelligence never pays off.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of lectured

Verb

Judge William Sullivan declined to declare a mistrial but sharply reprimanded the prosecution and told the jury to disregard Heilbrun’s statements on Clancy’s faith.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
The lawsuit says the officer was reprimanded and removed from further field training of Wadell.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of reprimanded

Verb

Some parties, including wildfire survivors and some lawmakers that represent fire-scarred districts, had criticized his accountability measures as too loose.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
But the union representing former Spirit flight attendants has criticized the carrier for selling the data.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticized

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“Upbraided.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upbraided. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of upbraided

verb

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