Synonyms of chastening

chastening 1 of 3

adjective

as in punitive

inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment

a chastening hour spent cleaning floors should discourage them from further pranks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• punitive
• correcting
• correctional
• corrective
• disciplinary
• penal
• disciplining
• chastising
• penalizing
• castigating
• retaliatory
• retributive
• revengeful
• wrathful
• vengeful
• retaliative
• retributory

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compensatory
• nonpunitive
• exculpatory
• vindicating
• exculpating
• remitting
• exonerating
• pardoning
• commuting
• condoning
• absolving
• acquitting
• reprieving

chastening

2 of 3

noun

as in condemnation

Related Words

• condemnation
• chastisement
• assessment
• castigation
• imposition
• fine
• sentence
• conviction
• punishment
• levying
• charge
• penalty
• retribution

Dissimilar Words

• forgiveness
• pardon
• remission
• absolution
• amnesty
• parole
• vindication
• remittal
• acquittal
• exoneration
• exculpation

chastening

3 of 3

verb

present participle of chasten

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

• punishing
• disciplining
• fining
• correcting
• penalizing
• chastising
• criticizing
• sentencing
• castigating
• assessing
• convicting
• imposing
• levying
• condemning
• damning
• reproving
• rebuking
• docking
• reprimanding
• charging
• mulcting
• denouncing
• wreaking
• keelhauling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sparing
• excusing
• pardoning
• forfeiting
• releasing
• getting off
• commuting
• ransoming
• vindicating
• acquitting
• exculpating
• exonerating
• absolving
• reprieving

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

• humiliating
• discrediting
• humbling
• embarrassing
• shaming
• degrading
• abasing
• disgracing
• debasing
• confusing
• insulting
• dishonoring
• demeaning
• rattling
• taking down
• mortifying
• lowering
• cheapening
• criticizing
• fouling
• disconcerting
• diminishing
• sinking
• ridiculing
• discomfiting
• minimizing
• smirching
• disparaging
• confounding
• belittling
• detracting
• discounting
• flustering
• condemning
• castigating
• decrying
• affronting
• discountenancing
• depreciating
• abashing
• maligning
• writing off
• damning
• slandering
• defiling
• nonplussing
• fazing
• libeling
• defaming
• censuring
• crying down
• denouncing
• putting down
• reprobating
• execrating
• bad-mouthing
• reprehending

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exalting
• praising
• citing
• cheering
• elevating
• deifying
• acknowledging
• celebrating
• commending
• aggrandizing
• recognizing
• decorating
• applauding
• honoring
• boasting
• congratulating
• canonizing
• saluting
• complimenting
• extolling
• hailing
• lauding
• acclaiming
• eulogizing
• highlighting
• touting
• ennobling
• uplifting
• lifting
• magnifying
• playing up
• feting
• glorifying
• promoting
• spotlighting
• dignifying
• advancing
• enthroning
• raising
• upgrading
• enshrining
• boosting
• idealizing
• romanticizing
• enskying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chastening

Adjective

Sunderland are lurking and, perhaps for the first time under Howe’s management, Newcastle are in deficit, needing a response (yet again) after a chastening night in Europe. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026

Verb

Another reason this defeat felt so chastening for United was that eight of Hull’s starting line-up had come up from the Championship, a year on from surviving relegation on goal difference. — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

The discipline and economy of Rosenwald’s philanthropy also provide a chastening contrast to our current hidebound efforts to help people. — Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026