as in condemnation
an often public or formal expression of disapproval
delivered a stinging rebuke to the Congress, calling for an end to backstabbing and arguing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to reprimand
to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault
the father was forced to rebuke his son for the spendthrift ways he had adopted since arriving at college
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2
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches
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3
as in to censure
to express public or formal disapproval of
in a rare move, the state's supreme court rebuked the governor for trying to circumvent one of its recent rulings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebuke
ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
These remarks drew an official rebuke from Takaichi.
—Amy McAuliffe, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Lake's efforts to put that call into action have been challenged in prior lawsuits filed by VOA journalists and drawn rebukes from a federal judge overseeing them.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Noun
Nicola Gratteri, Naples’ chief prosecutor and a long time anti-Mafia magistrate, offered one of the most pointed rebukes.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
These remarks drew an official rebuke from Takaichi.
—Amy McAuliffe, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
Her novel rebukes such thinking and prompts her characters to rebuke it in themselves, though at the last minute, Wood loses her nerve in a way that sheds light on the author’s growth over the past decade.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Lake's efforts to put that call into action have been challenged in prior lawsuits filed by VOA journalists and drawn rebukes from a federal judge overseeing them.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuke
Noun
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Reporting on this new policy prompted public condemnation as well as a letter of inquiry from senior House Republicans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The bill drew swift condemnation from rights groups and Muslim-majority countries including Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The release comes nearly two months after the officers involved were reprimanded for lying about the encounter.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Hart was reprimanding Ross for doing what is the most offensive thing a comedian can do — suck up to the most important person in the room — and enforcing an old ethic in comedy, which is not apologizing for your jokes.—
Robert Lynch,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the stunt goes south as Wooley turns out to be an unabashed bigot who embarrasses the show and gets scolded by the host.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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This cross-partisan skit is refreshing and the only people who might hate it are Cuomo supporters and maybe some woke scolds.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even in the absence of any proven crime committed by Tisch, even in the naivest retelling or understanding of Tisch’s correspondences with Epstein, his unacceptable relationship with this man deserves censure.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
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The first seeks to remove him from his assignments on the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees, while the second seeks to censure him.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Adams County Health Department admonished the Aurora immigration detention center over a lack of access to staff and poor communication in a new report detailing the county’s investigation into allegations of widespread illness at the facility earlier this year.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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At one point housewives were admonished not to shake their dust mops outdoors lest that contribute to smog.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With me, my wife lectures me more than my children.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Apr. 2026
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The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Although Ukrainian forces intercepted roughly 90% of the incoming drones, Zelenskyy condemned the bombardment as Russia's direct response to Ukraine's proposal for an Easter ceasefire.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The statement did not condemn the kidnapping or express concern.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Benjamin Rush, a Founding Father and a physician, criticized the medical establishment for being closed-minded about treatments recommended by non-physicians.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Glendon Hall, who leads the Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee, criticized the police at the time.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rebuke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuke. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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