Berate - IELTS Word of the Day for Speaking & Writing
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With words like ‘Berate’ in your vocabulary toolkit, your IELTS Speaking & Writing answers will sound impactful to score a band 8+. Look at the meaning, usage, and exercise to get familiar with the term while learning how to express criticism effectively.
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The term 'Berate’ can help you express emotions and attitudes very clearly and aptly, especially for the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections. However, it is crucial to put it into your IELTS preparation so that it comes naturally to you as you speak or write your answers.
By understanding the meaning, strategies to incorporate the term in sentences, you can express your ideas with absolute accuracy and confidence. Moreover, this would finally help you achieve your desired band scores in the IELTS Exam.
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What is the Meaning of the Word ‘Berate’?
Building vocabulary is not about learning new words, but it is also about using them in every sentence. Remember that by using the word in your IELTS preparation, you will be able to get a higher IELTS Band Score. To master the word 'Berate,' have a look at the following table, which contains its definition, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Topic |
Description |
Berate |
Verb |
Definition |
Scold or criticise someone in anger |
Synonyms |
Scold, Blame, Shout at |
Origin |
This word traces its origin back to the mid-16th century. It is a compound of two words: be-(meaning “thoroughly”), and rate. Here the origins are a bit hazy. It’s possible that rate – and by extension berate – comes from the same ancient word that led to the Swedish rata (meaning “to find blame, despise”) and earlier the Old Norse hrata (“to fall, stagger”). Nobody knows for sure, though. |
Examples |
I berated my junior analyst for lack of preparation before the big pitch. He almost cost us a deal worth a million dollars! She berated herself for not being careful enough to lock the gate before turning in for the night. Now she would have to look for a sheep that had escaped into the woods.
The architect had to endure a vicious berating from his client as the preliminary plans for the new building did not fit the client’s vision. It is never fun for an employer to berate one of his star employees, especially for a minor error. |
Grab the Vocabulary for IELTS (Essential words for popular topics in IELTS) and take a step towards your desired band score of 8+.
7 Day Weekly Plan to Use Berate in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers
If you want to excel in the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections, you must prepare yourself to use these terms in your answers. To achieve a band 8+, you need to practice consistently so that you can learn how to apply them naturally, accurately, and appropriately for the context given. The table below shows a 7-day weekly plan which can guide you through your preparation so that you do not have to think about the appropriate term to use.
Day |
Focus Area |
Activity Plan |
1 |
Pronunciation and Meaning |
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2 |
Synonyms |
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3 |
Antonyms |
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4 |
Grammar |
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5 |
IELTS Speaking |
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6 |
IELTS Writing |
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7 |
Quiz |
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Want to learn IELTS Speaking IDIOMS for BAND 9? Let’s check out the video below!
Exercise on Berate for IELTS Speaking & Writing
Now, it is about time to start inserting the word "Berate" into the appropriate sentence structures where it can add depth to the meaning. While attempting the questions given in the exercise below, pay close attention to every sentence structure to identify how this word should be applied.
Match the word below to complete these sentences.
Eloquent |
Meticulous |
Ephemeral |
Berate |
Ubiquitous |
Pragmatic |
1 The teacher started to __________ the students for being late in submitting their assignments.
2 She gave an __________ speech that literally brought tears to the eyes of the whole audience.
3 His work is always neat because he is very particular about every small detail.
4 In business, a __________ approach is usually more successful than an idealistic one.
5 The beauty of a rainbow is __________; the color goes away in no time.
6 In this digital era, the smartphone has become __________ to life.
Answer to the Exercise on Berate for IELTS Speaking & Writing
Whether you got all of the answers right or missed a few, here is your chance to note the reason as to what made you choose the particular option. Let us now go through the actual answers and understand how to improve on your skills to ace the exam.
- Berate
- Eloquent
- Meticulous
- Pragmatic
- Ephemeral
- Ubiquitous
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To put it simply, using the word ‘Berate’ in your vocabulary will get you farther in the Speaking & Writing sections. By using it seamlessly in several sentence formations, you would use it in the correct context. This is because it would come naturally to you during your responses without trying very hard. The more you do this, the better you will get.
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