Censure severely or angrily. Synonyms: bawl out, berate, call down, call on the carpet, chew out, chew up, chide, have words, jaw, lambast, lambaste, lecture, rag, rebuke, remonstrate, reprimand, reproof, scold, take to task, trounce. "The deputy ragged the Prime Minister" , "The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup"
