English Dictionary

Definition of “upbraid

upbraid (ʌpˈbreɪdPronunciation for upbraid

Definitions

verb (tr)

  1. to reprove or reproach angrily
  2. to find fault with

Alternative Forms

upˈbraider noun upˈbraiding noun upˈbraidingly adverb

Word Origin

Old English upbregdan;  related to Danish bebreide; see up, braid

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= scold, rebuke, reprimand, blame, condemn, lecture, carpet, censure, reproach, berate, castigate, chide, admonish, tear into, read someone the riot act tell someone off reprove, take someone to task tick someone off excoriate, chew someone out bawl someone out dress someone down tear someone off a strip, give someone a rocket slap someone on the wrist rap someone over the knuckles

Usage examples

  • He'd call it sinful vanity and upbraid her for her wicked blasphemy.
    Stewart, Michael, Grace (1989)
  • What it can't do is play to the galleries, upbraid senior players for lack of commitment and then resort to the usual stonewalling.
    India Today (1997)
  • Godfrey describes Bloom as "a different kind of marketing guy" and says he did not call him in to upbraid him for the advertisements.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • Nonetheless, he sprinkles statistics here and there that upbraid anyone who thinks he can be depicted as a failure.
    Times, Sunday Times (2001)
  • Do not upbraid me, maidens, arrogant analogues of my youth, who tell me I should not have walked by the river.
    Travers, P L, What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)

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