as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
a chastising lecture on the proper care and feeding of the dog
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in scolding
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in punishing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chastising
Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Just the same, this was some unsavory stuff from a team that began the season in Brazil with Reid chastising his players for their effort in an opening loss to the Chargers.
—Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
Twenty-three Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in voting yes on the resolution chastising Garcia, who set up his chief of staff as the sole Democrat on the primary ballot to replace him in a deep-blue district.
—Melinda Yao, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025
Their previous defeat, a 33-point drudging by the Atlanta Hawks, led to coach Doug Christie chastising his team’s defensive effort after the game.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The Dolphins’ six-year starter, a four-year team captain, had just made a private issue a public one, and every major news outlet was chastising him for it.
—Omar Kelly
november 13, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
If your child has already tried the trend, according to experts, parents should refrain from chastising them or using scare tactics.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
This after having spent days talking about the possibility of ceding Ukrainian territory as part of some sort of agreement, and chastising Ukraine — invaded unprovoked by a much larger neighbor — of starting the war itself.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Equally concerning to democracy defenders is its rhetoric chastising European democracies and apparent willingness to elevate political parties in Europe that reject human rights.
—Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
Just the same, this was some unsavory stuff from a team that began the season in Brazil with Reid chastising his players for their effort in an opening loss to the Chargers.
—Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
Twenty-three Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in voting yes on the resolution chastising Garcia, who set up his chief of staff as the sole Democrat on the primary ballot to replace him in a deep-blue district.
—Melinda Yao, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025
Their previous defeat, a 33-point drudging by the Atlanta Hawks, led to coach Doug Christie chastising his team’s defensive effort after the game.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2025
The Dolphins’ six-year starter, a four-year team captain, had just made a private issue a public one, and every major news outlet was chastising him for it.
—Omar Kelly
november 13, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
If your child has already tried the trend, according to experts, parents should refrain from chastising them or using scare tactics.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
This after having spent days talking about the possibility of ceding Ukrainian territory as part of some sort of agreement, and chastising Ukraine — invaded unprovoked by a much larger neighbor — of starting the war itself.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastising
Adjective
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As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
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But what was once punitive would eventually be relabeled.—
Outside,
Outside,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sanders, by now a perennial candidate, perfected his craggy, scolding, mitten-waving style.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
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But more recently, groups of citizens have grown tired of scolding and have begun reaching for the birch rod.—
Nick Bowlin,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The sweet spot is intuitive discipline, building habits that feel purposeful rather than punishing.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
25 Jan. 2026
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Targeted antitrust enforcement that restores competition without punishing scale for its own sake can lower prices without new bureaucracy.—
J.D. Hayworth,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Christian author Philip Yancey is retiring from writing and lecturing after admitting to a long-running affair with a married woman.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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After teaching at Sacramento City College and lecturing at UC Davis, Fisher moved into public history, working with the California Office of Historic Preservation and the Architectural History Department at Caltrans.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Censures, a means of formally reprimanding a lawmaker without going so far as to expel them, have historically been rare; in the 200 years after Congress first convened, only 22 House members were censured.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
21 Nov. 2025
-
When conversation veers into controversial territory, Gott suggests redirecting rather than reprimanding.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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President Erdoğan mastered this approach—publicly criticizing rate decisions, invoking Islamic prohibitions on interest, signaling displeasure through state media—until governors either complied or departed.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Justice Department also launched a probe into Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their public statements criticizing the presence of ICE in the state.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Casey Higgins, however, said Price is ultimately responsible for disclosing conflicts of interest and argued blaming his subordinates was not a defense to corruption charges.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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However, your friends are blaming you for asking valid questions of someone who is mishandling funds and directly impacting your quality of life.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chastising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastising. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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