chastise

verb

ˈcha-ˌstīz How to pronounce chastise (audio)
Definition of chastisenext
1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings a cold, distant father who rarely paid attention to his children except to chastise them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to punish
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime the division of opinion regarding the appropriate way to chastise juvenile perpetrators of adult crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word chastise distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of chastise are castigate, chasten, correct, discipline, and punish. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

When could castigate be used to replace chastise?

In some situations, the words castigate and chastise are roughly equivalent. However, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When can chasten be used instead of chastise?

While the synonyms chasten and chastise are close in meaning, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

When might correct be a better fit than chastise?

While in some cases nearly identical to chastise, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than chastise?

Although the words discipline and chastise have much in common, discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

In what contexts can punish take the place of chastise?

The words punish and chastise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

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 chastise Trump publicly chastised his counterpart Zelensky in the Oval Office in February, warranting a chorus of responses from national lawmakers and international leaders. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 8 June 2025 In her statement, Roberts chastised all the councilors for failing to act. —Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 4 July 2025 Trump touted the military in a speech reiterating their successes, including during the June 22 Iranian bombing mission, and chastising the last administration. —ABC News, 4 July 2025 In a statement published by the union this week on Facebook, Region 1A Director LaShawn English chastised the Sheffield team for using the UAW pinwheel logo in a flyer advertising a rally for Sheffield. —Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for chastise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastise
  1. scold
  2. punish
  3. reprimand
  4. criticize
  5. lecture
Verb
  • Whether this comes off as a joke or as an invitation for scolding (spoken or unspoken, loving or otherwise) depends entirely on the other Muslims in the room.
    — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
  • But there was a time Emily Deschanel, who played the meticulous forensic anthropologist through 12 seasons of Bones, got scolded for being just that — and the memory still makes the star emotional.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 12 July 2025
Definition of scold
Verb
  • The Boston Federal Reserve is already testing CBDC programs, and the examples of abuse are everywhere: China's social credit system, which punishes citizens for political dissent, and Canada freezing of truckers' bank accounts in 2022 for protesting vaccine mandates.
    — Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
  • The 22-year-old Shelton was utterly dominant in his first two matches of the tournament, punishing opponents with blistering serves and thunderous ground strokes.
    — Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2025
Definition of punish
Verb
  • The responding officer later reprimanded the woman for entering the vehicle to help the dog.
    — Sydney Sasser July 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2025
  • Some judges are known to reprimand attorneys who miss deadlines and even sanction them.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 June 2025
Definition of reprimand
Verb
  • Many airlines have long relied on aging computer systems, and the aviation industry has been criticized for failing to modernize swiftly.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 22 July 2025
  • Even Bennington's family, namely mother Susan Eubanks and son Jaime Bennington, criticized the lineup change.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 July 2025
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • Gavin could learn something to benefit Californians rather than lecturing Americans 3,000 miles away.
    — Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
  • Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Lincoln Mitchell, a political strategy and campaign specialist who lectures at Columbia University, to understand what Mamdani’s primary win might indicate about the direction of national politics.
    — Lincoln Mitchell, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
Definition of lecture

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chastens
chastise
chastised
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Cite this Entry

“Chastise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastise. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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