WordWeb Online

1. A severe rebuke
   "he deserved the berating that the coach gave him";
   - blowing up

1. Censure severely or angrily
   "The deputy berated the Prime Minister";
   - call on the carpet [US], take to task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, scold, chide, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out [N. Amer], chew up [N. Amer], have words, lambaste, lambast, ream [N. Amer]

Derived forms: beratings

Type of: criticise [Brit], criticize, damn, knock, pick apart, rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval