chide

verb

chid ˈchid How to pronounce chide (audio) or chided ˈchī-dəd How to pronounce chide (audio) ; chid or chidden ˈchi-dᵊn How to pronounce chide (audio) or chided; chiding ˈchī-diŋ How to pronounce chide (audio)

intransitive verb

: to speak out in angry or displeased rebuke
is quick to chide against the mayor for his negligence

transitive verb

: to voice disapproval to : reproach in a usually mild and constructive manner : scold
She chided us for arriving late.
Choose the Right Synonym for chide

reprove, rebuke, reprimand, admonish, reproach, chide mean to criticize adversely.

reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

Examples of chide in a Sentence

She chided us for arriving late. “You really should have been here on time,” she chided.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
After lightly chiding these gents for two movies, director Michael Winterbottom finally takes the knives out and begins to punish them, a decision that results in two late scenes that border on sociopathic and culminates in an unimaginably absurd ending that refuses to let Coogan off the hook. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024 After the game, Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack chided Fox in the locker room for missing Winston at one point and failing to get a third sack. Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024 Adra chuckles, gently chiding his friend for his impatience and his need to effect change immediately. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024 The big picture: Black men also have become a focal point in battleground states Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with Democrats courting them — and sometimes chiding them for not getting firmly behind Harris, a Black woman. Russell Contreras, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chide 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cīdan to quarrel, chide, from cīd strife

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of chide was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near chide

Cite this Entry

“Chide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chide. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

chide

verb
chid ˈchid How to pronounce chide (audio) or chided ˈchīd-əd How to pronounce chide (audio) ; chid or chidden ˈchid-ᵊn How to pronounce chide (audio) or chided; chiding ˈchīd-iŋ How to pronounce chide (audio)
: to express mild disapproval of

More from Merriam-Webster on chide

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