rail 1 of 2

noun

ˈrāl How to pronounce rail (audio)
Definition of railnext
1
as in railing
a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in road
a roadway overlaid with parallel steel rails over which trains travel an abandoned stretch of rail that was overgrown with brush

Synonyms & Similar Words

rail

2 of 2

verb

as in to rant

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rail differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rail are berate, revile, scold, upbraid, and vituperate. While all these words mean "to reproach angrily and abusively," rail (at or against) stresses an unrestrained berating.

railed loudly at their insolence

When could berate be used to replace rail?

In some situations, the words berate and rail are roughly equivalent. However, berate suggests prolonged and often abusive scolding.

berated continually by an overbearing boss

When is it sensible to use revile instead of rail?

While the synonyms revile and rail are close in meaning, revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred.

an alleged killer reviled in the press

When is scold a more appropriate choice than rail?

The words scold and rail can be used in similar contexts, but scold implies rebuking in irritation or ill temper justly or unjustly.

angrily scolding the children

When would upbraid be a good substitute for rail?

The words upbraid and rail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, upbraid implies censuring on definite and usually justifiable grounds.

upbraided her assistants for poor research

In what contexts can vituperate take the place of rail?

The synonyms vituperate and rail are sometimes interchangeable, but vituperate suggests a violent reviling.

was vituperated for betraying his friends

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rail
Noun
Yes; the property features elevators, a variety of accessible common areas, and accessible guest rooms with bathtub grab rails, lowered electrical outlets, flashing door knockers, and more. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026 This is the second installment of The Receipts, a CBS California investigative series examining consultant spending, oversight and influence over the state's multibillion-dollar high-speed rail project. — Tyler Horst, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
Bannon rails against visas for skilled workers — not just undocumented immigrants. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 22 June 2026 First released in 2025, the song rails against how, over the past handful of years, people have fought for the sake of fighting, with no end in sight. — Daniel Kohn, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rail
  1. railing
  2. road
  3. rant
  4. railroad
  5. fulminate
  6. railway
  7. revile
Noun
  • Most were gleaming white and conventionally extravagant, with black privacy glass and chrome railings and layers of decks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Several spectators reached for the ball along the railing as Moises Alou lunged to try to make the catch.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of railing
Noun
  • At the height of the incident, DeKalb fire crews blocked two right lanes of I-85 southbound and the entire access road next to it.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Wildcats improved to 6-1 with a win at Oklahoma, which marks their third road win in the conference.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of road
Verb
  • Elon Musk is ranting on X in response to the upcoming documentary, Musk.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Videos of Cubans exploding in anger and ranting against the government have become frequent despite the severe penalties Cuban law imposes to those who criticize the authorities.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of rant
Noun
  • After its railroad industry collapsed in the ’60s, local business leaders quite literally reinvented Leavenworth to draw tourists, framing the mountain town as an alternative to the Alps.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But the tribe was forced out during the Gold Rush and, decades later, a railroad was built along the river in this verdant stretch of Humboldt County.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of railroad
Verb
  • Some neighbors fulminated against the university, arguing that the extra events would bring more noise and traffic, and that the property tax-exempt institution would not pay its fair share.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Predictably, Khomeini fulminated about Carter’s visit.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of fulminate
Noun
  • In Bologna, the disorders led to the precautionary closure of the railway station.
    — Tyler Speicher, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In addition, a collection of works on the Ghanaian railway system will also be on display in the exhibition.
    — Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of railway
Verb
  • In the American psyche, data centers have become so reviled that big tech can’t even pay residents life changing money to welcome the facilities into their backyards.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 15 Oct. 2026
  • He was admired by some as a charismatic statesman who put Italy on the world stage but reviled by others as a populist who used political power for personal gain.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of revile

Phrases Containing rail

Browse Nearby Words

raids
rail
rail (against)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rail. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rail

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rail

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