Liberal dons scolded youngster (5)
I believe the answer is:
child
'youngster' is the definition.
(I know that youngster can be written as child)
'liberal dons scolded' is the wordplay.
'liberal' becomes 'l' (abbreviation).
'dons' indicates putting letters inside (don can mean to wear or be covered in).
'scolded' becomes 'chid' ('chide' can be a synonym of 'scold').
'l' put into 'chid' is 'CHILD'.
(Other definitions for child that I've seen before include "Offspring" , "Nipper" , "Toddler" , "Youngster" , "Little one" .)