1
as in scolds
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in punishes
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
the division of opinion regarding the appropriate way to chastise juvenile perpetrators of adult crimes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chastises
Levinson’s series has long trafficked as a kind of smutty after-school special, not unlike how Ryan Murphy delves into some of the nastiest gore imaginable and then chastises us for watching.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
When a stranger chastises them for not wearing hijabs in public, Pari and Hanna can barely manage to stifle a laugh.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
As Dexter questions why Batista’s death hurts so much, Brian chastises his brother for listening to Harry too much.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Red Jacob chastises Colum for not healing quickly enough.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
When a stranger chastises them for not wearing hijabs in public, Pari and Hanna can barely manage to stifle a laugh.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
As Dexter questions why Batista’s death hurts so much, Brian chastises his brother for listening to Harry too much.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Red Jacob chastises Colum for not healing quickly enough.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastises
Verb
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Or tie scolds to the ducking stool again.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
McMahon likes to remind scolds that wrestling is a morality play.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Because what most directly punishes American physicians for seeking mental health care sits on a state medical licensure application.—
Frances Mei Hardin,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
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Imposing an across the board cut punishes agencies that have maintained budgetary discipline while rewarding those that have not, creating an incentive for bloated budgets so future cuts don’t hurt.—
Rose Evans
May 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 May 2026
Verb
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His supervisor appears as a ticket conductor and reprimands him for doing nothing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The audit also criticizes the city for not trying to boost compliance by issuing fines.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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OpenAI memo criticizes Anthropic watch now Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Now, Wollner is back with Everytime, which sees a tragic death bring a mother, her daughter, and a teenage boy, who everyone blames for the tragedy, together.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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Letter writer blames sister-in-law for brother’s non-Jewish funeral plans.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Washington Post,
7 May 2026
Verb
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When not writing, May frequently lectures on the politics and policies of mass incarceration for university classes, academic conferences, and online events.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
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With me, my wife lectures me more than my children.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chastises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastises. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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