Synonyms of chastising

chastising 1 of 2

adjective

as in punitive

inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment

a chastising lecture on the proper care and feeding of the dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

• punitive
• correcting
• correctional
• disciplining
• corrective
• disciplinary
• penal
• castigating
• penalizing
• chastening
• retaliatory
• revengeful
• retributive
• vengeful
• wrathful
• retaliative
• retributory

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compensatory
• nonpunitive
• vindicating
• exculpatory
• exonerating
• exculpating
• condoning
• remitting
• pardoning
• absolving
• commuting
• acquitting
• reprieving

chastising

2 of 2

verb

present participle of chastise

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

• scolding
• lecturing
• reprimanding
• criticizing
• blaming
• berating
• upbraiding
• admonishing
• rebuking
• castigating
• lambasting
• attacking
• mocking
• reproaching
• ragging
• flaying
• chiding
• jawing
• hammering
• faulting
• calling down
• dressing down
• scoring
• bawling out
• ranting (at)
• railing (at or against)
• reaming (out)
• rating
• tongue-lashing
• basting
• keelhauling
• condemning
• slamming
• denouncing
• chewing out
• laying into
• crucifying
• lashing
• haranguing
• excoriating
• reading the riot act (to)
• assailing
• reviling
• ridiculing
• reproving
• belittling
• knocking
• censuring
• blasting
• disparaging
• taking to task
• abusing
• remonstrating (with)
• panning
• scorning
• bad-mouthing
• scoffing
• scourging
• lacing (into)
• dissing
• vituperating
• reprehending
• putting down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approving
• endorsing
• sanctioning
• praising
• extolling
• lauding

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

• punishing
• criticizing
• fining
• penalizing
• disciplining
• correcting
• castigating
• chastening
• assessing
• sentencing
• imposing
• convicting
• condemning
• levying
• denouncing
• reprimanding
• charging
• rebuking
• docking
• mulcting
• reproving
• damning
• wreaking
• keelhauling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• excusing
• sparing
• pardoning
• forfeiting
• releasing
• getting off
• commuting
• ransoming
• exonerating
• vindicating
• absolving
• acquitting
• exculpating
• reprieving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chastising

Verb

Daemon chastising Ulf and Hugh over their disobedience, sowing the seeds of their discontent. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

So the painting, which is an image of a maternal figure chastising her child, kind of foreshadows the plot. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 June 2026

The governor took to social media on June 24, chastising the president for canceling the bipartisan housing reform package. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 24 June 2026

Some have been more vocal than others, publicly chastising him for his opacity ahead of what is expected to be a competitive general election race. — Connor Greene, Time, 29 May 2026

Almost immediately after releasing Einstein, Paliwal started receiving emails from professors chastising him for creating a tool seemingly designed to perpetuate academic fraud. — Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, the newest major candidate to enter the race, hewed toward partisan middle ground, chastising leaders in Sacramento for allowing the state budget to balloon without tangible improvements to housing affordability, homelessness and public schools. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026

Unfortunately, instead of chastising their petulant colleagues, nearly every other Democratic politician has decided to join them in thrashing about on the floor. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026

There is inevitably going to be an onslaught of thinkpieces and TikTok rants dedicated to chastising this casting. — Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026