censure severely or angrily
- 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
Synonym: take to taskrebukeragtrouncereprooflecturereprimandjawdress downcall downscoldchideberatebawl outremonstratechew outchew uphave wordslambastelambast