as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
a chastening hour spent cleaning floors should discourage them from further pranks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in punishing
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humiliating
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the unexpected loss to a second-rate player really chastened the tournament's top-seeded tennis star
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in condemnation
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Recent Examples of chastening
Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
The American suffered a chastening 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Iga Świątek in the Wimbledon final eight weeks ago, the first time in the Open Era that a women’s player has failed to win a single game in the final at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Two months later, his side suffered a 5-2 defeat to Crystal Palace, followed by a chastening 5-0 loss away to Chelsea in May.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Market shakeouts are about testing risk tolerances, forcing a rethink of unexamined premises and, at times, chastening the arrogant.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
But the feel-good factor evaporated following a chastening 3-0 opening-weekend loss away to promoted Sunderland.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
The American suffered a chastening 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Iga Świątek in the Wimbledon final eight weeks ago, the first time in the Open Era that a women’s player has failed to win a single game in the final at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Two months later, his side suffered a 5-2 defeat to Crystal Palace, followed by a chastening 5-0 loss away to Chelsea in May.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Market shakeouts are about testing risk tolerances, forcing a rethink of unexamined premises and, at times, chastening the arrogant.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastening
Adjective
-
His legal team condemned the plan as unconstitutional and punitive, warning that without assurances from Liberia, Abrego Garcia could be sent back to El Salvador.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Professional development for teachers focuses on positive, rather than punitive, behavioral and engagement practices.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fact that the NBA cleared Rozier at the time does not mean the league is prevented from punishing him later.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Authoritarian approaches to governing rely on scapegoating people, policing thought and speech, and punishing dissent.—
Elizabeth Anne Wood,
The Conversation,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This announcement, humiliating the involved member, is harmful.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Absent due process, there’s no pause to decide whether this person should be condemned or if the reason given for condemnation is legitimate.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
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And when families lead with compassion instead of condemnation, recovery happens faster and lasts longer.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Already, Cuba’s top diplomats have been sharing propaganda content discrediting Machado as a warmonger.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
-
There would be accusations of race manipulation, an online mob discrediting Wallace’s win as undeserved, and an angry Joe Gibbs Racing organization, which would now realize Hamlin puts another team’s interests ahead of their own.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The prospect of being a father and getting to watch my wife become a mother is both humbling and exciting.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
20 Oct. 2025
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In Trader’s defense, McConkey likely would left several defensive backs in a similarly humbling position.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, county Behavioral Health Services and the court crafted San Diego’s approach, creating a process for a defendant to move from arrest to arraignment to assessment.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
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In response to that legislation, De Anza developed new assessment practices, curriculum and other services that support students in completing those college-level courses.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Links with nonprofit group The recent castigations from progressive Democrats were driven in part by the Opportunity Caucus’s ties to One Main Street.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
18 Oct. 2025
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Like legions of dreamers before him, McGuirk started on film and TV sets as a PA, an often thankless job where random castigations from members of the cast or crew can be par for the course.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chastening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastening. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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