berate | Definition & Meaning for the SAT
BERATE most nearly means: (A) praise enthusiastically; (B) examine carefully; (C) speak softly; (D) scold harshly. 👉 Answer + examples, pronunciation, and full SAT explanation inside.
ℹ️ Part of speech of berate
berate is a VERB.
🗣️ Pronunciation of berate
berate is pronounced /bɪ.ˈreɪt/ or bih-RAYT.
📚️ Definition of berate
To scold or criticize someone angrily and at length; to reprimand harshly. Example: to berate someone for their mistakes.
📰 Examples
Here are some examples of berate in usage:
The chef would berate any new cook who wouldn't wear a mesh glove while cutting.
Adults who constantly berate children for small mistakes may not realize that doing this can create inhibited children afraid to make mistakes.
Ma~ (pronounced 'Matilda') berated herself for forgetting her friend's birthday again.
✅ Quiz answer
Answer to the question above:
D, scold harshly. Explanations: A is the opposite—praise enthusiastically means to compliment warmly, not to criticize. B doesn't work; examine carefully means to inspect or analyze, which has nothing to do with angry criticism. C is way off; speak softly is about volume and gentleness, while berate implies loud, harsh criticism.