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
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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
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2
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches
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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
Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
The rebukes delivered to him have been notably fierce as well.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
On Tuesday, Ben-Gvir rebuked Belgium over its intention to recognise a Palestinian State.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Noun
That lawsuit was combined with a similar one filed by the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors, and resulted in the district court’s clear rebuke to the Administration.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
The rebukes delivered to him have been notably fierce as well.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Amnesty also argues that the ban suppresses expression across the wider pro-Palestinian movement, an assertion that the government rebukes.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
On Tuesday, Ben-Gvir rebuked Belgium over its intention to recognise a Palestinian State.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuke
Noun
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Multiple investigations found that IRS officials used political keywords to flag right-leaning groups, sparking national outrage and condemnation.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
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In 2019, when a missile and drone strike on Saudi oil facilities – widely blamed on Iran – knocked out half the kingdom’s oil output and sent crude prices skyrocketing, his administration responded with only muted condemnation.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tensions are high on campuses after the assassination, with some professors getting fired or reprimanded for celebrations of the conservative commentator’s death.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
13 Sep. 2025
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San Juan Unified School District Trustee Nick Bloise was formally reprimanded by the board in relation to his behavior during a school site visit.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Shipp is tasked with scolding her father and delivering leaden exposition.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
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In Part 2, viewers see Morticia scold her children for lying to her, yet Morticia is keeping secrets from Wednesday about her past and family.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Peery has been censured by a Commission of Presbytery.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Sep. 2025
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The move to essentially censure Baz’s body inflamed an already contentious debate about the public scrutiny over women’s bodies.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But high motor needs to be an every-night-thing, not only a response when admonished by the coach.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
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Warning shared, and I’ve been gingerly admonished.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For a time she was asked to lecture new volunteers … until she was asked not to.—
Mimi Pond,
People.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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In between all the jokes, the film stops more than once to basically lecture on this sad state of affairs, an admirable Sturges-like approach that gets laid on thick, perhaps too thick to merge successfully with the largely comedic rhythm Ansari has established so well.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Republicans were unfazed by Democrats threatening to withhold their votes, accusing them of hypocrisy for condemning GOP efforts to win policy concessions in past funding battles.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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Human rights groups, citing concerns over forced confessions, have condemned a wave of hundreds of arrests and warned that the government is using the June conflict as a pretext to escalate repression.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More generally, the Nepalese public criticized the government’s measures disproportionate impact on ordinary users.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Republicans on Sunday criticized some Democrats, suggesting language used by them contributed to Kirk's killing, claims that Democrats rejected.—
Lalee Ibssa,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebuke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuke. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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