Attack
Attack verb - To criticize harshly and usually publicly.
Usage example: the mayor and all his aides were attacked mercilessly in the press when the scandal erupted
Berate is a synonym for attack in criticize topic. In some cases you can use "Berate" instead a verb "Attack", when it comes to topics like assault verbally.
Berate
Berate verb - To criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings.
Usage example: there's no need to berate someone for making a mistake during the first day on the job
Nearby Word: berating
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
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If the player makes Wildfire choose her man over her best friend in War: 13th Day, she will berate Chase for not defending himself against Brooks's attack.4
Source: Anger Born of Worry -
If you give less than what they cost, such as only one, the bird will simply berate you but give none and the bird will attack you when you return.
Source: Video Game Cruelty Punishment -
If you attempt to club enemies with one, you'll discover they have five unique attack messages specially prepared for just such a case, three of which berate the player for not using an all powerful staff for its intended purpose.
Source: Developers' Foresight
Cite this Source
Berate and Attack. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/berate
Attack & Berate. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/berate>.
Berate or Attack. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/attack/berate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "attack" and "berate" have occurred on timeline