rebuke

verb

re·buke | \ ri-ˈbyük

rebuked; rebuking

Definition of rebuke

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to criticize sharply : reprimand

b : to serve as a rebuke to

2 : to turn back or keep down : check

rebuke

noun

Definition of rebuke (Entry 2 of 2)

: an expression of strong disapproval : reprimand

Other Words from rebuke Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about rebuke

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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

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 But Trump rebuked Republicans — and condemned Democrats — for the trade-offs that helped make all of that military spending possible. — Noah Bierman, latimes.com, "Trump sets himself apart from Republicans, a party he has redefined but doesn't want to join," 23 Mar. 2018 But on Tuesday, network executives publicly rebuked the White House’s move to banish CNN reporter Jim Acosta from the White House. — Aaron Rupar, Vox, "Even Trump’s favorite TV network supports CNN’s lawsuit against the White House," 14 Nov. 2018 Later, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, rebuked him. — Eric Bradner, CNN, "An anti-abortion, conservative Democrat fights for survival in Illinois primary," 19 Mar. 2018 In 2006, the agency rebuked him over his conduct at two different criminal trials. — Matt Hamilton, latimes.com, "2 former lawyers for ex-rap mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight are arrested on accessory charges," 26 Jan. 2018 Questions are swirling about whether Trump will sharply rebuke his Russian counterpart for the election meddling that prompted a special counsel probe. — Fox News, "The Latest: Trump claims credit for boosting NATO defense," 16 July 2018 Big League Dreams, a national company, sharply rebuked the town's move to close the park, with staff claiming there were no safety concerns. — Lily Altavena, azcentral, "Gilbert may operate the shuttered Big League Dreams ballpark," 23 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Their final report would be a stinging rebuke of NASA and would lead to a two-and-a-half-year suspension of the shuttle program. — Margaret Lazarus Dean, Popular Mechanics, "The Oral History of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster," 28 Jan. 2019 Flake's anti-Trump crusade this past year has marked a stunning rebuke of a president from a senator of the same party, and while some Republicans have criticized the President, none have matched the degree to which Flake has scorched Trump. — Ashley Killough, CNN, "Frequent Trump critic Sen. Jeff Flake to visit New Hampshire as 2020 looms," 16 Mar. 2018 A dozen Latin American governments and Canada delivered a blistering rebuke Friday, rejecting the legitimacy of Maduro’s second term and urging him to hand over power as the only path to restoring democracy. — Scott Smith, The Seattle Times, "Venezuela Supreme Court judge flees to US to protest Maduro," 7 Jan. 2019 In delivering his rebuke … Ryan was careful not to disparage all of Nunes’s complaints with the Justice Department. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Why Bernie Sanders won’t join the Democratic Party," 7 June 2018 But opposition in the House crumbled after Democrats nearly won control of the chamber in November, amid a blue wave widely viewed as a rebuke to President Donald Trump. — Author: Laura Vozzella, Gregory S. Schneider, Anchorage Daily News, "Virginia Senate approves Medicaid expansion to 400,000 low-income residents," 31 May 2018 The San Francisco news comes as a rebuke to hometown ride-hail companies Uber and Lyft, both of which are expanding beyond cars in an effort to become one-stop mobility shops. — Recode Staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: A leak-peek at Apple’s new iPhone before its Sept. 12 event," 31 Aug. 2018 Some senators are portraying it as a rebuke of Mr. Trump's use of a national security waiver to impose the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. — CBS News, "Paul Ryan criticizes Trump's China tariffs, saying they aren't "the right way to go"," 11 July 2018 According to the McCabe memo, which was first reported by the New York Times, Rosenstein claimed that Trump wanted him to mention the Russia investigation in this official rebuke. — Nash Jenkins, Time, "President Trump Says He Didn't Fire James Comey Because of Russia. He Said Something Different Before," 31 May 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.