upbraid
/ˌʌpˈbɹeɪd/
"upbraid" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“upbraid” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 7
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To criticize severely.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | upbraid |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ˌʌpˈbɹeɪd/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “upbraid” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for upbraid is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌʌpˈbɹeɪd/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
No misspelling variants are generated for upbraid in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English upbreyden, from Old English upbreġdan, equivalent to up- + braid. Compare English umbraid (“to upbraid”), Icelandic bregða (“to draw, brandish, braid, deviate from, change, break off, upbraid”). See up, and braid (transitive). The correct English form is upbraid, spelled U-P-B-R-A-I-D.
Definition
- 1To criticize severely.
- 2To charge with something wrong or disgraceful; to reproach
- 3To treat with contempt.
- 4To object or urge as a matter of reproach
- 5To utter upbraidings.
- 6To vomit; retch.
Etymology
From Middle English upbreyden, from Old English upbreġdan, equivalent to up- + braid. Compare English umbraid (“to upbraid”), Icelandic bregða (“to draw, brandish, braid, deviate from, change, break off, upbraid”). See up, and braid (transitive).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "upbraid"?
What does "upbraid" mean?
How do you pronounce "upbraid"?
What is the origin of the word "upbraid"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “upbraid”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is U-P-B-R-A-I-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌʌpˈbɹeɪd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.