Meaning & use
chiding
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“chiding” is a form of “chide”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Scolding someone gently or mildly for a fault or mistake.
Grammar: Often takes an object and for: chiding her for being late.
Patterns
- chiding someone for something
- chiding someone about something
She was chiding her brother for leaving the door open.
Stop chiding him; he already feels bad.
The coach was chiding the team for their sloppy play.
noununcountable
A mild scolding or reproach.
Grammar: Uncountable noun: a bit of chiding.
Patterns
- a bit of chiding
His chiding was gentle but clear.
She took the chiding with good humor.
The chiding from her teacher made her blush.
Word forms
| base form | chide |
|---|---|
| third person singular | chides |
| past tense | chided |
| past participle | chided |
Common combinations
- gently chiding
- She was gently chiding her son.
- chiding someone for
- He was chiding me for being late.
- playful chiding
- The playful chiding made everyone laugh.
- stop chiding
- Please stop chiding the child.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scolding
- Scolding is more common and can be angrier than chiding.
- rebuking
- Rebuking is stronger and more formal, suggesting serious disapproval.
- reproaching
- Reproaching stresses disappointment rather than anger.
- berating
- Berating means scolding at length and angrily, so it is harsher.
Opposites
Word family
- chide verb
- to scold mildly
- chided verb
- past tense of chide
- chidingly adverb
- in a scolding way
Commonly confused: chiding or chiming?
chiding vs chiming
Chiming means making a bell-like sound, not scolding.
Practice
The teacher was ______ the students for forgetting their homework, but she smiled while she did it.
Choose one answer.
Chiding means mildly scolding. Praising and thanking would not fit forgetting homework.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chiding”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.