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rebuke

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rebuke contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rebuke are admonish, chide, reprimand, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

When is it sensible to use admonish instead of rebuke?

While in some cases nearly identical to rebuke, admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When would reprimand be a good substitute for rebuke?

The words reprimand and rebuke can be used in similar contexts, but reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

How do reproach and chide relate to one another, in the sense of rebuke?

Both reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

In what contexts can reprove take the place of rebuke?

Although the words reprove and rebuke have much in common, reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rebuke
Noun
Eddy's op-ed sparked debate among fans and even garnered rebuke from her teammates. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025 The acknowledgment of privilege and the rebuke of its self-serving justifications for oppression is another motif in Gunn’s work. Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
An homage to millions of anonymous victims, the work implicitly rebukes the nearby figurative sculptures of slaveholders. Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025 Anthropic has rebuked federal government efforts to preempt state-level oversight of AI — a notably different stance than that of OpenAI, which has pushed for less regulation. Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuke
Noun
  • The arrest by federal agents of a day care teacher inside a child care center in northwest Chicago has drawn strong condemnation from local leaders.
    Whitney Wild, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The texts ignited a scandal that drew bipartisan condemnation.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • What To Know On November 4, Itsaragrisil publicly reprimanded Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, during a sashing ceremony at a hotel in Bangkok.
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The board voted unanimously to reprimand Bowden.
    Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International (MGI), was seen scolding Fatima Bosch, a 25-year-old contestant from Mexico, ahead of the 74th Miss Universe competition being held in Bangkok later this month.
    Anabella González, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
  • No doubt many grandmothers will want to scold us, but the truth is, soap isn't going to destroy your cast iron pans.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The City Council also has censured him twice.
    Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Miller has said she's no longer censured.
    Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • In his order, Judge McConnell admonished the government for deciding earlier in the week to make only partial SNAP payments.
    Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman and ESPN chief Jimmy Pitaro sent a note to staff Friday, thanking them for the work and continued focus, while admonishing YouTube and its parent company Google for the dispute.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The same government that lectures Beijing about state capitalism and nonmarket behaviors now practices it at home.
    Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But Andres Bernal, a political analyst who lectures at the City University of New York, thinks many young voters look at Cuomo's history of controversy and are reminded of the Democratic Party establishment that has left them disillusioned.
    Brian Mann, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Al Jazeera has repeatedly denied those accusations and condemned its closure in Israel.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Prescott was troubled by the significant differences in tone, headlines and emphasis when covering the war, and condemned the BBC for allegedly misreporting the proportion of Palestinian women and children killed by Israeli military actions.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • House Democrats swiftly criticized the Senate.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Bibelheimer also had good reason to criticize the film, as Ferrell’s portrayal of her was wildly at odds with the truth.
    Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rebuke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuke. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.

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