rebuke

1 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 admonish, chide, reprimand, reproach, reprove, tick off Related Words berate, castigate, chew out, dress down, flay, harangue, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, upbraid; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, knock, lash, pan, reprehend, slam; belittle, deprecate, disparage, minimize, mock, put down; deride, ridicule, scoff, scorn Phrases burn one's ears, get after, get on Near Antonyms approve, endorse (also indorse), OK (or okay), sanction; applaud, extol (also extoll), hail, laud, praise, salute, tout

2 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches Synonyms baste, bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), scold, reprimand, reproach, score, tongue-lash, upbraidRelated Words admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate; belittle, disparage, mock, put down; ridicule, scoff, scornNear Antonyms approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; extol (also extoll), laud, praise

3 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 Synonyms condemn, denounce, objurgate, censure, reprimand, reproach, reproveRelated Words admonish, chastise; castigate, punish; bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid; belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparageNear Antonyms acclaim, applause, hail, honor; eulogize, laud, praise; approve, bless, sanctionAntonyms cite, commend, endorse (also indorse)