rebuke

verb re·buke \ ri-ˈbyük \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: rebuke in a Sentence

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

See rebuke defined for kids

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

And now that Hill has rebuked them, what will his fellow Republicans Holcomb, House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate head David Long do next?

— kaitlin lange, Indianapolis Star, "Curtis Hill scandal threatens his future — and stability in Indiana Statehouse," 8 July 2018
Meanwhile, the president publicly rebuked Tillerson for his overtures to North Korea and later fired him, both via Twitter.

— umair irfan, Vox, "Why Trump would really, really rather not fire Scott Pruitt," 15 June 2018
The fallout was immediate: Britain, France, and Germany rebuked Trump and vowed to honor the deal.

— robin wright, The New Yorker, "The End of the Iran Deal and Trump’s New, Confrontational Foreign Policy," 13 May 2018
Hansher dismissed all six of McAdams' claims against Marquette over his suspension, and rebuked him in a 33-page ruling with a recitation of what academic freedom is — and is not.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Supreme Court sides with Marquette professor John McAdams in free speech case, orders university to reinstate him," 6 July 2018
The petition highlights not only a divide between citizens and their government but a divide among county officials themselves, with some signing it, and others rebuking it.

— kelsey ryan, kansascity, "'Time for us to take it back': Clay Co. citizens give petitions to Missouri auditor," 29 June 2018
Several players and activists took to social media that day to rebuke it.

— katherine fominykh, baltimoresun.com, "ACLU, NAACP and more send letter to Goodell to voice grievances against NFL anthem policy," 20 June 2018
The council has focused heavily on Israel, rebuking it for its treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

— tracy wilkinson, latimes.com, "U.S. withdraws from U.N. Human Rights Council," 20 June 2018
His party is taking heat for failing to rebuke him.

— NBC News, "First Read's Morning Clips: Republicans embrace the 'cult' of Trump," 14 June 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

And the first thing that came out was always some kind of rebuke.

— keith gessen, Longreads, "My Brother Comes to Moscow," 10 July 2018
With the vote, San Diego County became California's most populous county to rebuke state policies aimed at protecting select immigrants from deportation.

— chris lindahl, Ramona Sentinel, "County Supervisors side with Trump administration on sanctuary laws," 17 Apr. 2018
Now that the melee has died down over Sarah Palin's rebuke of Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, who approved a joke aimed at Palin's son who has Down syndrome, NEWSWEEK media critic Joshua Alston sorts out who was in the right.

— Newsweek, "Amazing Photos of Bioluminescent Phytoplankton," 14 Mar. 2018
Her performance is a kind of rebuke to the arc and tragic Norma Desmond view of aging movie actresses.

— jake coyle, Detroit Free Press, "Review: Bening-Bell chemistry lights up ‘Liverpool’," 16 Feb. 2018
The plan, which would require approval from Congress, prompted immediate rebukes from Democrats and tentative responses from Republicans.

— michelle hackman, WSJ, "Trump Proposes Combining Workforce Training, Welfare Programs in Agency Revamp," 21 June 2018
Her opinion earned a rebuke from conservative Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion.

— CNN, "Sotomayor dissent tackles impact of Ohio ruling on minority voters," 11 June 2018
The retaliation came in the form of passage of a last-minute amendment attached to the House appropriations bill that triggered heated debate on the House floor and stinging rebukes from lawmakers from Memphis.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "The Political Uses of The Anti-Anti-Confederacy," 19 Apr. 2018
Just two weeks after a rare rebuke from the Food and Drug Administration derailed Alkermes’s treatment for serious depression, the company has convinced the agency to change its mind and give the drug a chance.

— damian garde, STAT, "Alkermes’s depression drug is back on track after an FDA ‘misunderstanding’," 16 Apr. 2018