chastens

verb

present tense third-person singular of chasten
1
as in punishes
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humiliates
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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastens
  1. punishes
  2. humiliates
  3. discredits
  4. humbles
Verb
  • Alex Williamson is a mom in the district who thinks that the new policy is too broad and punishes the kids who ride their e-bikes safely.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Sehnaoui's meeting with the Israeli leader occurred as some in Lebanon have called for abolishing a 1955 law that bans dealing with Israel or having contacts with Israelis and punishes offenders with up to 10 years in jail.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of punishes
Verb
  • Filming a scene in which Isaiah humiliates Cam, Withers asked Wayans to crack jokes about Kionte’s death — the defining event of Withers’ life, and his lowest point.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Diomande just humiliates fullbacks.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Definition of humiliates
Verb
  • The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.
    — Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.
    — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of discredits
Verb
  • Janve, who centers his work in mountain landscapes, spoke at a press meeting about nature in the film functioning as a mirror that flatters and humbles its human subjects simultaneously.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 June 2026
  • Getting an injury, that’s one thing that humbles you.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026
Definition of humbles
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

chastening
chastens
chastise
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Cite this Entry

“Chastens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastens. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chastens

Nglish: Translation of chastens for Spanish Speakers

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