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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chastising
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
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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In August, a jury in Florida found the automaker partly liable for a deadly 2019 crash involving its Autopilot system, ordering the company to pay $243 million in punitive and compensatory damages.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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Unlike the punitive approach used in that case, the USC proposal offers new funding and preferential treatment for universities that comply.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Miss Sammie flashed the scolding look Jean had known since childhood, though playfully now.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
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Shipp is tasked with scolding her father and delivering leaden exposition.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Daniel Day-Lewis is legendary for going to punishing lengths to deliver authentic performances.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
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Composer Deantoni Parks’s score sustains and amplifies the tension, heightening the creeping pretense of water rushing forward and the punishing breathlessness of struggling back upstream.—
Anne Reeve,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Since exiting Dries Van Noten a few years ago, Scallon has been working as an independent consultant and mentor in fashion communications strategy, also lecturing occasionally and sharing his views about creative content on podcasts.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
25 Sep. 2025
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The same woman Don had been lecturing about beer.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Her coach Cheryl Reeve was later suspended after postgame comments criticizing the officiating in that game.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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Trump has also spoken at length about his concerns about the New York City mayoral race, criticizing the potential election of progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani, who drew national attention for beating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the wake of the assassination of prominent conservative figure Charlie Kirk, the rhetoric wars have taken to new levels of vitriol, with many on the right blaming the left writ large for such political violence, and vice versa.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
1 Oct. 2025
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Both parties are blaming each other, though a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows that more Americans hold Republicans responsible for the impasse.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chastising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastising. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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