Hot SAT Words

You Are in Trouble!

CriticizingDisapprovingScolding

You should NOT have done that!

BERATE

Vb. To rebuke or scold in a harsh tone

BERATEHer parents often

BERATED her, but when the scoldings took place in front of her friends, Lulu was humiliated!

CASTIGATE

Vb. To scold or punish severely

CASTIGATE

The policeman not only issued him a ticket, but CASTIGATED him for passing a stopped school bus.

Don’t confuse “CASTIGATE” with…

CENSURE

Vb. To criticize strongly

CENSUREFor harassing his secretary,

Mr. Packwood was CENSURED, but not fired, from his job.

“CENSURED”

NOT to be confused with

“CENSORED”

This example is

CHASTISE

Vb. To punish or scold harshly.

CHASTISE

I was CHASTISED for driving the car across the golf course.

DEPRECATEVb. To

show mild disapproval

DEPRECATEAlthough I tried very hard this semester, Mrs. Shivers didn’t think I tried hard enough and DEPRECATED my efforts to improve.

IMPUGNVb. To oppose or attack

someone or something as false or refutable

IMPUGN

The scandal IMPUGNED the reputation of the judge.

This sign IMPUGNS your intelligence

REBUFFVb. To snub; to bluntly refuse

REBUFFGrant’s initial request for a raise was . However,

he got the moneythe second time he asked.

REBUKE

Vb. To reprimand sharply; N. a sharp reprimand

REBUKESarah continued to bite her nails in spite of her mother’s repeated REBUKES.

REPROVE

Vb. To speak in a disapproving manner; to scold

REPROVEMrs. Shivers said

REPROVINGLY, “You may have a great explanation, but there IS no excuse for failing to do your work!”

UPBRAIDVb. To chide; to scold bitterly

UPBRAID Vb. Mrs. Shivers UPBRAIDED the class for scoring poorly on the practice PSAT test.