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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chastening
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
Elsewhere, despite the success of USMNT players in the league phase, this week was chastening — Milan, Juventus and Celtic’s eliminations knocked out half a dozen of their stars.
—Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
What needs to change if the round of 16 is to bring more than just chastening elimination?
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Since a chastening defeat to Coco Gauff in Toronto in 2022, Sabalenka has completely remade her serve, eliminating the sprees of double faults that used to pepper her matches.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Jackson’s side needed it in what has been a chastening start to his second season Down Under.
—Beren Cross, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
That was an equally chastening reality for their Qatari owners.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
This defeat on Tyneside was a chastening reminder of the scale of the task facing Pereira — three horrible goals conceded, attacking cohesion severely lacking and the chances Wolves did create squandered.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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
Elsewhere, despite the success of USMNT players in the league phase, this week was chastening — Milan, Juventus and Celtic’s eliminations knocked out half a dozen of their stars.
—Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
What needs to change if the round of 16 is to bring more than just chastening elimination?
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Since a chastening defeat to Coco Gauff in Toronto in 2022, Sabalenka has completely remade her serve, eliminating the sprees of double faults that used to pepper her matches.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Jackson’s side needed it in what has been a chastening start to his second season Down Under.
—Beren Cross, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
That was an equally chastening reality for their Qatari owners.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
This defeat on Tyneside was a chastening reminder of the scale of the task facing Pereira — three horrible goals conceded, attacking cohesion severely lacking and the chances Wolves did create squandered.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastening
Adjective
-
Proactive Regulatory Engagement Rather than awaiting punitive laws, leaders should shape ethical norms: • Fairness Pledges: Company commitments to cap surge pricing during crises, like natural disasters.—
Durga Krishnamoorthy,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
However, that is now changing as the wealthy flee a punitive new tax regime, with potentially severe consequences for the country.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
In an interview with The Athletic last month, Diggins described the feeling of finishing one of the most punishing endurance tests in all of sports.—
Zack Pierce,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
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But punishing that behavior means bringing the hammer down on Vietnam, hardly a step that would win Washington strategic support in Hanoi, where a new leadership dominated by public security and military officials actually sees eye to eye with China in some areas.—
Evan A. Feigenbaum,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
But his condemnation of intervention in Iran was at odds with the Trump administration whose role in the conflict has splintered the MAGA coalition, a wing of which opposes American involvement in foreign wars.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
-
Winning would cap a startling resurrection for Cuomo, a three-term governor who resigned in 2021 amid condemnation for scandals.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Poor data quality can provide wrong models and alerts, discrediting predictive monitoring.—
Hrushikesh Deshmukh,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Johnson released new guidelines for reporting gifts Wednesday after discrediting the investigation.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Earlier this week, before the briefing, CNN and the New York Times reported that the strikes only set Iran’s nuclear program back months as opposed to years, based on an early Pentagon intelligence assessment.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
29 June 2025
-
Delray Beach was also seeking compensation for the costs and expenses related to the past, present and future investigation, sampling, testing and assessment of the extent of PFAS contamination along with PFAS removal.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
Dancing without rules or the imposition of judgment was in my bones.—
Kate Nelson,
Outside Online,
22 June 2025
-
Second, the Administration’s imposition of tariffs has increased focus on the resiliency of global supply chains and the ability to meet production goals in a much more complex environment.—
Jerrold Lundquist,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
If convicted, Akhtar would face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
-
James Beard baggers won’t want to miss Birch (farm-to-table fine), Odd Duck (global small plates), Bavette La Boucherie (oh, that muffuletta), and the many Bartolotta restaurants (from Francophile to steakhouse).—
Elaine Glusac,
AFAR Media,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chastening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastening. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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