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, informal], take to task, rebuke, rag [informal], trounce, lecture, reprimand, jaw [informal], dress down [informal], call down [informal], scold, chide, bawl out [informal], remonstrate, chew out [N. Amer, informal], chew up [N. Amer, informal], have words, lambaste, lambast, ream [N. Amer, informal], wig [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: beratings

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