SCOLD

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does scold mean? 

• SCOLD (noun)
  The noun SCOLD has 1 sense:

1. someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault

  Familiarity information: SCOLD used as a noun is very rare.

• SCOLD (verb)
  The verb SCOLD has 2 senses:

1. censure severely or angrily
2. show one's unhappiness or critical attitude

  Familiarity information: SCOLD used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCOLD (noun)

Meaning:

Someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

common scold; nag; nagger; scold; scolder

Hypernyms ("scold" is a kind of...):

disagreeable person; unpleasant person (a person who is not pleasant or agreeable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scold"):

harridan (a scolding (even vicious) old woman)

• SCOLD (verb)

Meaning:

Censure severely or angrily

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

dress down; have words; take to task; rebuke; reproof; chide; chew up; bawl out; berate; scold; call on the carpet; chew out; lambast; lambaste; call down; reprimand; lecture; trounce; remonstrate; jaw; rag

Context examples:

The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car / The deputy ragged the Prime Minister / The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup

Hypernyms (to "scold" is one way to...):

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scold"):

castigate; chasten; chastise; correct; objurgate (censure severely)

brush down; tell off (reprimand)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot scold Sue

Meaning:

Show one's unhappiness or critical attitude

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

grouch; grumble; scold

Context examples:

He scolded about anything that he thought was wrong / We grumbled about the increased work load

Hypernyms (to "scold" is one way to...):

complain; kick; kvetch; plain; quetch; sound off (express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP