as in condemnation
an often public or formal expression of disapproval
delivered a stinging rebuke to the Congress, calling for an end to backstabbing and arguing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to reprimand
to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault
the father was forced to rebuke his son for the spendthrift ways he had adopted since arriving at college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to censure
to express public or formal disapproval of
in a rare move, the state's supreme court rebuked the governor for trying to circumvent one of its recent rulings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebuke
Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
The remarks drew an immediate rebuke from Greene, who condemned Fine for cheering on the starvation of civilians.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 31 July 2025
Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un, cited the U.S.-South Korea alliance in rebuking such efforts, according to reports.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Noun
Other examples of similar rebukes have come from Catholic figures such as Reverend Michael Pham, bishop of San Diego, California, who joined several of his colleagues in calling for priests, deacons and parish leaders to accompany migrants to court and stand in solidarity with them.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
The remarks drew an immediate rebuke from Greene, who condemned Fine for cheering on the starvation of civilians.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 31 July 2025
Verb
Amazon Prime Video’s War of the Worlds is trending online, with critics (and the internet alike) mostly rebuking the film.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un, cited the U.S.-South Korea alliance in rebuking such efforts, according to reports.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuke
Noun
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Trump's decision to deploy the military drew sharp condemnation from Democrats across the country, who said the move raises civil-liberties concerns at a time when crime in D.C. is dropping.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
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The school, which is not affiliated with Lincoln County Schools, prompted community outrage and public condemnation from school leaders.—
Evan Moore
August 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Corrections Department disciplinary records reveal two park rangers were reprimanded for various offenses, including lying about attendance, sleeping on the job and unprofessional behavior.—
Maritza Dominguez,
AZCentral.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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As the task force scouted out the scene, Blythe (Eric Dane) repeatedly reprimanded Meachum (Jensen Ackles) for getting too close to the potentially explosive truck — which happened to interrupt Mark telling his SAC about his tumor.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
30 July 2025
Verb
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Some have also scolded Colossal for tinkering with genetics, but the tech firm insists its work will aid in the conservation and protection of endangered species.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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With the camel’s back broken, Dorothy Scott, summoning all her righteous indignation (and channeled with maybe one-third of Audra McDonald’s extraordinary talent, which is still enough to power the city of Manhattan), lets the snobby scold have it.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The inscriptions also reference El, a deity associated with the Abrahamic God, while censuring the ancient pagan goddess Ba`alat.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Washington’s partners in Europe stepped up during the Biden administration and, in the face of American reluctance, advocated for the IAEA to censure Tehran for not cooperating with the agency’s inspections and refusing to answer questions about its nuclear work.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In the latest example, the House Ethics Committee admonished Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly for stock his wife bought in a steelmaking company while having inside information of an investigation that could benefit the company.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
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As Tetyana weeps, the soldier gently admonishes her fuss.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Whereas the Bitcoin boosters lecture passionately on the benefits of a decentralized financial system, taking up the mantle of an important grassroots movement, the memecoin speculators subscribe to a zero-sum logic of winners and suckers, mostly looking to outwit one another.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Aug. 2025
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For example, presently, professors can lecture on what is involved in effective negotiation skills, but AI can objectively assess a student’s ability to demonstrate effective negotiation skills with different types of AI negotiators.—
Nick Ladany,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Attorney Lauren Cerri of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, representing the plaintiff, condemned school administration for ignoring prior complaints made by yard duty supervisors years earlier that Wilson was spending time in his classroom alone with female students during lunch recesses.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Both Israel and the US have condemned moves to recognize a Palestinian state.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Trump amps up his attacks on CEOs and other executives Trump has long used social media and his other public statements to cajole, criticize and praise companies and individual CEOs.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
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Some social media users have criticized the department’s reverence for the 1940s, noting the period predated the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation, as well as other landmark legislation and Supreme Court decisions that were key to the civil rights era.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebuke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuke. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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