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1. Rebuking a person harshly
   - chiding, objurgation, tongue-lashing

1. Censure severely or angrily
   "The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car"
   - call on the carpet [US], take to task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out [N. Amer], chew up [N. Amer], have words, lambaste, lambast, ream [N. Amer]
    
2. Show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
   "He scolded about anything that he thought was wrong"
   - grouch, grumble

Derived forms: scoldings

See also: scolder

Type of: complain, criticise [Brit], criticize, damn, kick, knock, kvetch [N. Amer], pick apart, plain [archaic], quetch, rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval, sound off

Encyclopedia: Scold