Synonyms

upbraid

American

[uhp-breyd] / ʌpˈbreɪd /

verb (used with object)

to find fault with or reproach severely; censure.

The military tribunal upbraided the soldier for his cowardice.

Synonyms:

blame, reprove
(of things) to bring reproach on; serve as a reproach to.

verb (used without object)

Archaic. to utter reproaches.

upbraid British

/ ʌpˈbreɪd /

verb

to reprove or reproach angrily
to find fault with

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See reprimand.

Other Word Forms

unupbraided adjective
upbraider noun
upbraiding noun
upbraidingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of upbraid

before 1000; Middle English; Old English upbrēdan to adduce as a fault. See up-, braid

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I may have shrunk from his criticism many years ago, but if he feels a need to upbraid me now, I will view that as a badge of honor.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2021

Since then she has continued to upbraid Mr Trump.

From BBC • May 11, 2021

It’s understandable to have complicated needs and feelings even in the wake of great grief, and I don’t want you to upbraid yourself when you already feel a sense of guilt.

From Slate • Jun. 1, 2020

He was trying in a Judiciary Committee hearing today to upbraid Neomi Rao, the lawyer nominated to the D.C.

From Fox News • Feb. 5, 2019

Whenever he walked into my presence I became silent, waiting for him to speak, wondering if he were going to upbraid me for something.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023