rebuke

verb re·buke \ ri-ˈbyük \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of rebuke

rebuked; rebuking

transitive verb

1 a : to criticize sharply : reprimand

b : to serve as a rebuke to

2 : to turn back or keep down : check

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rebuker

noun

See rebuke defined for English-language learners

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Examples of rebuke in a Sentence

the father was forced to rebuke his son for the spendthrift ways he had adopted since arriving at college
strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches

Recent Examples of rebuke from the Web

Regulators rebuked it for publishing details of the incident while an investigation was going on.

— The Economist, "Business this week," 5 Apr. 2018
Gallego also rebuked the administration for not coming to an agreement with congressional Democrats on immigration.

— eli watkins, CNN, "Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego: I'll work with Trump 'when his ideas aren't stupid'," 5 Apr. 2018
Steve Bannon, Former White House Chief Strategist True, he was rebuked by Trump and lost his control of Breitbart News.

— the editors of gq, GQ, "The 50 Most Powerful People In Trump’s Washington*," 22 Feb. 2018
In 2010, he was rebuked by the agency for failing to report sanctions from a judge and neglecting to competently work as an attorney.

— matt hamilton, latimes.com, "2 former lawyers for ex-rap mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight are arrested on accessory charges," 26 Jan. 2018
Public Rebuke Trump publicly rebuked McMaster in February, saying in a tweet that his national security adviser had neglected to defend his 2016 victory when discussing U.S. claims that Russia meddled in the election.

— Fortune, "President Trump Swaps National Security Adviser, Trading McMaster for Bolton," 23 Mar. 2018
After all, he's feuded with everyone from Hillary Clinton to Meryl Streep and Colin Kaepernick to Joe Biden, who took to the airwaves to rebuke him.

— stephen collinson, CNN, "Interview on alleged affair tests Trump's vow of silence," 23 Mar. 2018
Shortly after joining the campaign, Papadopoulos was rebuked by campaign officials for giving an unauthorized interview to a British newspaper, The Post previously reported.

— rosalind s. helderman and tom hamburger, chicagotribune.com, "'You should do it': Trump officials encouraged George Papadopoulos' foreign outreach, documents show," 23 Mar. 2018
Last month, Trump rebuked him on Twitter for neglecting to defend the president’s 2016 victory while discussing U.S. claims that Russia had interfered in the election.

— margaret talev, Bloomberg.com, "White House Denies McMaster Is Next to Be Ousted," 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rebuke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rebuke

Middle English, from Anglo-French rebucher, rebouker to blunt, check, reprimand

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

rebuke Synonyms

Phrases

bring to account, call to account;

Synonym Discussion of rebuke

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

rebuke

noun

Definition of rebuke

: an expression of strong disapproval : reprimand

Examples of rebuke in a Sentence

delivered a stinging rebuke to the Congress, calling for an end to backstabbing and arguing

Recent Examples of rebuke from the Web

Flake on March 16 delivered a stinging rebuke of Trump at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics on the campus of Saint Anselm College in Manchester.

— dan nowicki, azcentral, "Poll: President Donald Trump leading potential GOP rival Sen. Jeff Flake in New Hampshire," 3 Apr. 2018
After his comments became public a month later, Facebook delivered a public rebuke.

— yoree koh, WSJ, "Silicon Valley Rivals Take Shots at Facebook," 1 Apr. 2018
In what was seen as an unusual rebuke to an incumbent, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)—an important party fundraising group—initially withheld its endorsement from Lipinski.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Science ‘champion’ Dan Lipinski faces tough race in Illinois primary," 14 Mar. 2018
The war of words between Megyn Kelly and Jane Fonda escalated Monday after Kelly delivered a stern rebuke to the actress and attacked Fonda's anti-Vietnam War activism.

— claire atkinson, NBC News, "Megyn Kelly slams Jane Fonda’s ‘poor-me routine’," 22 Jan. 2018
The Big Sick would go on to sell for $12 million dollars, and the positive press to follow cast its success as a rebuke to presidential xenophobia — the right reassuring story to tell ourselves, about ourselves.

— molly fischer, The Cut, "The Great Awokening," 10 Jan. 2018
Predictably, some see the tough talk as a rebuke of Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's president, who has been struggling to get the economy on its feet and stamp out the persistent threat of Islamist group Boko Haram in the northeast.

— david mckenzie, CNN, "Bill Gates tells Nigerian leaders to 'face facts' so they can make progress," 26 Mar. 2018
His statement drew sharp rebukes from survivors and their attorneys on social media.

— rj wolcott, Detroit Free Press, "Engler: MSU students, taxpayers will likely pay for Nassar settlements," 15 Mar. 2018
More recently, her 2017 release Pussycat was an album-length rebuke to our current president, with sharp lyrics and a welcoming musical jangle.

— robert ham, Billboard, "Juliana Hatfield on Her Olivia Newton-John Covers Album: 'I Wanted to Escape From All the Horrible Negativity'," 12 Mar. 2018