Definition of REBUKE

Choose the Right Synonym for rebuke

Verb

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 rebuke in a Sentence

Verb

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

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The myth of the Republican resistance John McCain’s memorial service featured a range of prominent Republicans striking a range of non-Trumpy themes and implicitly rebuking various aspects of the incumbent president’s conduct. — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, "George W. Bush is not a resistance leader — he’s part of the problem," 12 Sep. 2018 But Carrie Underwood is rebuking this idea entirely. — Julyssa Lopez, Allure, "Carrie Underwood Just Slammed the Idea of "Bouncing Back" After Having a Baby," 21 Mar. 2019 Respect for women, especially mothers, was such that no one dared rebuke her. — Angela Rocco Decarlo, WSJ, "Merry Christmas, Don Corleone," 20 Dec. 2018 Trump’s performance was so bad, in fact, that the administration received widespread, bipartisan condemnation for it, and even official congressional action in the form of a nonbinding resolution to rebuke it. — Alex Ward, Vox, "The five main takeaways from Trump’s disastrous Russia week.," 20 July 2018 The fact that voters rebuked the Republican in this race could be a bad sign for Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, who is seeking to oust vulnerable Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in November. — Eric Bradner, CNN, "6 takeaways from the biggest primary night of 2018," 6 June 2018 By Friday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declined to confirm the comments were spoken and did not rebuke Sadler's remark, even as The Washington Post and other media outlets confirmed the exchange. — Author: Paul Kane, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump advisers hail McCain but offer no apology for aide’s crude remark," 13 May 2018 Mueller's team was rebuked repeatedly by Ellis during the trial. — Gregg Re, Fox News, "Manafort, defense team 'very happy' after jury fails to reach verdict in third day of deliberations," 21 Aug. 2018 The agent and lawyer were called out on Twitter by Mr. Trump on Saturday as being minions of former FBI Director James Comey, who was also rebuked by the inspector general for not following Justice Department policies. — Del Quentin Wilber, WSJ, "FBI’s Peter Strzok Agrees to Appear Before Lawmakers," 17 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Slovakia elected its first female president, a liberal and pro-European anticorruption candidate whose rise is seen as a rebuke of the conservative nationalism remaking its larger neighbors. — Drew Hinshaw, WSJ, "In Europe’s Nationalist Hotbed, Slovakia Takes a Liberal Turn," 31 Mar. 2019 Some senators are portraying it as a rebuke of President Donald Trump's use of a national security waiver to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union. — Kevin Freking, chicagotribune.com, "Senate voices protest over Trump's aluminum, steel tariffs," 11 July 2018 Others are running as a rebuke to President Donald Trump's administration. — Maegan Vazquez, CNN, "A record number of LGBTQ candidates are running for office to run for office. Here's why.," 15 June 2018 Many arms experts see the April 14 airstrikes as a stern rebuke to Russia as well as Syria. — Theo Emery, Time, "The North Korea Summit Is Trump's Chance to Pressure Syria About Its Weapons, Too," 4 June 2018 His conversion was also interpreted as a rebuke to the Roman Catholic Church, which had ignored General Rios Montt’s pleas to denounce the purported electoral fraud of 1974. — John Otis, BostonGlobe.com, "Efrain Rios Montt, 91, Guatemalan dictator convicted of genocide," 1 Apr. 2018 That drew a rebuke from a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump’s third and current wife, Melania. — James Barron, New York Times, "Ivana Trump, In and Out of the Spotlight," 26 June 2018 But though the French president didn’t mention Trump or America by name, his US counterpart seemed to sense the rebuke was meant for him. — Rachel Withers, Vox, "Macron denounces nationalism as avowed “nationalist” Trump stands steps away," 11 Nov. 2018 The order prompted a quick rebuke from the trial judge, Sergio Moro, who urged federal police officials to disregard Judge Favreto’s order. — New York Times, "Judge Orders Brazil to Release Ex-President Lula, Setting Off Legal Uproar," 8 July 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.