rebuke

rebuke

verb

Definition of REBUKE

1

to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault <the father was forced to rebuke his son for the spendthrift ways he had adopted since arriving at college>

Synonyms admonish, chide, reprimand, reproach, reprove, tick off

Related Words berate, castigate, chew out, dress down, flay, harangue, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, upbraid; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, knock, lash, pan, reprehend, slam; belittle, deprecate, disparage, minimize, mock, put down; deride, ridicule, scoff, scorn

Phrases burn one's ears, get after, get on

Near Antonyms approve, endorse (also indorse), OK (or okay), sanction; applaud, extol (also extoll), hail, laud, praise, salute, tout

2

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings <strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches>

Synonyms baste, bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, score, tongue-lash, upbraid

Related Words admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate; belittle, disparage, mock, put down; ridicule, scoff, scorn

Near Antonyms approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; extol (also extoll), laud, praise

3

to express public or formal disapproval of <in a rare move, the state's supreme court rebuked the governor for trying to circumvent one of its recent rulings>

Synonyms condemn, denounce, objurgate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove

Related Words admonish, chastise; castigate, punish; bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid; belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparage

Near Antonyms acclaim, applause, hail, honor; eulogize, laud, praise; approve, bless, sanction

Antonyms cite, commend, endorse (also indorse)