Synonyms of chastises

chastises

verb

present tense third-person singular of chastise

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

• scolds
• reprimands
• criticizes
• blames
• lectures
• berates
• upbraids
• admonishes
• castigates
• rebukes
• lambastes
• mocks
• chides
• flays
• reproaches
• calls down
• bawls out
• rails (at or against)
• faults
• dresses down
• rags
• bastes
• attacks
• jaws
• scores
• rants (at)
• lays into
• reams (out)
• takes to task
• hammers
• condemns
• denounces
• excoriates
• slams
• chews out
• rates
• reads the riot act (to)
• reproves
• tongue-lashes
• keelhauls
• reviles
• assails
• disparages
• crucifies
• ridicules
• belittles
• knocks
• censures
• remonstrates (with)
• scoffs
• abuses
• harangues
• scorns
• pans
• blasts
• bad-mouths
• lashes
• disses
• scourges
• reprehends
• laces (into)
• vituperates
• puts down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approves
• endorses
• sanctions
• praises
• extols
• lauds

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• punishes
• criticizes
• penalizes
• castigates
• corrects
• chastens
• fines
• disciplines
• sentences
• assesses
• imposes
• condemns
• denounces
• convicts
• rebukes
• reprimands
• reproves
• levies
• damns
• docks
• charges
• wreaks
• mulcts
• keelhauls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• spares
• excuses
• forfeits
• pardons
• releases
• gets off
• exonerates
• absolves
• vindicates
• acquits
• commutes
• exculpates
• ransoms
• reprieves

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chastises

The respected 13th-century Spanish rabbi Nachmanides (Ramban) chastises Lot for the atrocity of offering his daughters in place of the angels. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026

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