1
as in admonished
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scolded
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 reprimanded
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of rebuked
During a shoot that took place in an unheated swimming pool in Cycle 7, one contestant was rebuked for coming down with hypothermia.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Even then, some could reverse course on final passage, as several did earlier this year during a similar debate over Venezuela after the president publicly rebuked them.
—Nik Popli, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Reports of looming job cuts were quickly rebuked by labor unions, including SEIU 1021.
—Lauren Toms, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The governor’s office sharply rebuked the court’s action.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Traum not only granted Blythe an injunction to play in 2026 but also rebuked the NCAA’s restriction of eligibility to four seasons of a sport in five years as especially problematic in the current college sports world.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Feb. 2026
She was also rebuked by legal hawk Sunny Hostin for saying Trump is not a racist.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
The co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which rebuked the CDC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, will oversee the nation’s leading public health agency.
—Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Trump is rebuked by the public and also by some of his colleagues for the Obama posting.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Even then, some could reverse course on final passage, as several did earlier this year during a similar debate over Venezuela after the president publicly rebuked them.
—Nik Popli, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Reports of looming job cuts were quickly rebuked by labor unions, including SEIU 1021.
—Lauren Toms, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The governor’s office sharply rebuked the court’s action.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Traum not only granted Blythe an injunction to play in 2026 but also rebuked the NCAA’s restriction of eligibility to four seasons of a sport in five years as especially problematic in the current college sports world.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Feb. 2026
She was also rebuked by legal hawk Sunny Hostin for saying Trump is not a racist.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
The co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which rebuked the CDC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, will oversee the nation’s leading public health agency.
—Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Trump is rebuked by the public and also by some of his colleagues for the Obama posting.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuked
Verb
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The church's spiritual board had previously addressed the issue and formally admonished Pastor Tome.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Feb. 2026
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LaBeouf, who waited alone in the courtroom wearing a fleece jacket and jeans tucked into cowboy boots, was also admonished by the judge for allegedly yelling homophobic slurs while hitting multiple people near the French Quarter.—
JACK BROOK,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In Zambrano’s case, Gee scolded the government over how the detention unfolded.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
He is being groomed, playing, testing boundaries and even being scolded which are all part of normal social learning for young macaques.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Former Circuit Judge Gary Farmer resigned last August after being suspended indefinitely and former County Judge Marti Levey Cohen, elected three times by voters, resigned in December after she was suspended and reprimanded.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
-
According to The Associated Press, LaBeouf was reprimanded for allegedly yelling homophobic slurs while hitting multiple people near the French Quarter last week.—
Emily Trainham,
FOXNews.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His selection could prove awkward, as the Islamic Republic has long criticized hereditary rule and cast itself as a more just alternative.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
That proposal had been praised by some neighborhood leaders who often oppose high-rise housing in or near single-family areas, but it was harshly criticized by leaders of the development and business community.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Vance’s speech got a cool reception from European leaders who said they felt lectured.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Some of us have guest lectured in his law school class on the Arkansas Constitution, and his passion for our state's rich heritage is evident.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Democrat was later censured for that.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Former Councilman Mario Bravo was censured in 2022 for publicly berating a colleague, a former romantic partner who disagreed with him over a clean-energy initiative.—
Molly Smith,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The executive, Deputy Chief Financial Officer Janine Lim, blamed the delay, in part, on staff resignations and plummeting morale amid uncertainty over the agency’s future.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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In the hearing, which stretched nearly five hours, Noem defended her agency’s treatment of immigrants caught up in enforcement activities, and blamed activists and others for attacks against officers.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Iran’s acts of retaliation in several countries have been widely condemned.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
In a phone call with his Russian counterpart on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said condemned the attacks, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.—
Anniek Bao,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rebuked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuked. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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