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chastise

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of chastise

1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
  • a cold, distant father who rarely paid attention to his children except to chastise them
Synonyms of chastise

bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, score, tongue-lash, upbraid
Words Related to chastise

admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove

abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate

belittle, disparage, mock, put down

ridicule, scoff, scorn
Phrases Synonymous with chastise

lay into, read the riot act (to), take to task
Near Antonyms of chastise

approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction

extol (also extoll), laud, praise
2 to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
  • the division of opinion regarding the appropriate way to chastise certain crimes
Synonyms of chastise

castigate, chasten, correct, discipline, penalize, punish
Words Related to chastise

assess, charge, dock, fine, impose, levy, mulct

convict, sentence

condemn, damn, denounce

criticize, keelhaul, rebuke, reprimand, reprove

wreak
Near Antonyms of chastise

forfeit

get off, ransom, release

commute, reprieve

absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate
Antonyms of chastise

excuse, pardon, spare

Synonym Discussion of chastise

punish, chastise, castigate, chasten, discipline, correct mean to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing. punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.
    • punished for stealing
chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.
    • chastised his son for neglecting his studies
castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.
    • an editorial castigating the entire city council
chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.
    • chastened by a landslide election defeat
discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.
    • parents must discipline their children
correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.
    • the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Learn More about chastise

  1. See words that rhyme with chastise Dictionary: Definition of chastise Spanish Central: Translation of chastise Nglish: Translation of chastise for Spanish speakers

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