Chastise: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone in authority is punishing someone severely or scolding them sharply. It can be both formal and informal.

• The teacher chastised the student for being late.
• She was chastised by her boss for missing the deadline.

Used in formal settings to express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone's actions.

• The manager rebuked the employee for missing the meeting.
• The senator publicly rebuked the policy changes.

Used in formal situations to scold someone officially or severely. It has an authoritative tone.

• She received a reprimand from her boss for her mistake.
• The soldiers were reprimanded for not following orders.

Used to gently criticize or correct someone's action or behavior. It is less harsh and often done in a caring or concerned manner.

• He reproved his friend for being inconsiderate.
• The teacher reproved the student for talking during the lesson.

Used when someone scolds someone else angrily and for a long time. It is often used to describe more intense anger.

• He berated the team for their poor performance.
• The coach berated the players after they lost the game.

Used when someone gives a long, serious talk to someone, often to criticize or advise them about their behavior. It is more formal and can be either negative or neutral.

• Her father lectured her about the importance of responsibility.
• The principal lectured the students on the value of hard work.

Use when someone needs to be disciplined or punished for something they did wrong. Often implies a more severe form of reprimand.

• The teacher had to chastise the student for cheating on the test.
• He was chastised by his boss for missing the important meeting.

Commonly used in everyday language to express disapproval or find faults with someone or something. Can range from constructive feedback to negative judgment.

• She was quick to criticize his work without offering any solutions.
• The movie was criticized for its poor storyline.

Used to express strong disapproval in a moral or ethical sense. Often implies a judgment that something is wrong or unacceptable.

• The international community condemned the country's actions as a violation of human rights.
• The mayor condemned the violence that erupted during the protests.

Typically used in formal or official settings to express strong disapproval. Implies a formal reprimand or official condemnation.

• The senator faced censure from his colleagues for inappropriate behavior.
• She received a letter of censure from the board for her actions.

Typically used in informal settings to reprimand someone, often a child, for their behavior. Usually implies annoyance or anger.

• The mother scolded her child for not doing his homework.
• He scolded the dog for chewing on his shoes.

Used to describe a severe or intense scolding, often in a formal or literary context. It implies strong criticism or reproach.

• The manager upbraided the employee for repeatedly arriving late to work.
• She upbraided him for his lack of consideration.