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
Relevance
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
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 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
-
The church's spiritual board had previously addressed the issue and formally admonished Pastor Tome.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
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
-
Last year, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded and admonished Givens, citing conduct that included allowing a staff member to impersonate her during a 2021 bond hearing and taking action in cases after she had been recused.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Jonathan was even reprimanded more than once for his name-calling and demeaning attitude towards Ana.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for attacks on neighboring countries, but hard-liners criticized that and said the war strategy would continue.—
Cara Anna,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Army vehicles carrying the launchers and other equipment arrived past midnight in a highly secretive mission criticized by residents.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My father founded private hospitals south of Johannesburg, and my mother lectured anatomy, presiding over dissections and preparing meat dishes at home with the same attentive care — removing sinew and fat with a dedicated set of kitchen scalpels.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Cluelessly, the Biden administration lectured Israel about its military response.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Dallas County, two moderate GOP incumbent representatives faced challengers after being censured by their own county party.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The Democrat was later censured for that.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company blamed the understaffing and dangerous conditions on industry-wide challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Trump has blamed the strike on Iran and said that the country possesses and uses Tomahawk missiles.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group dedicated to the civil rights of Muslim Americans, immediately condemned the congressman's words.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Those chats at the time were condemned by GOP leaders including House Speaker Mike Johnson, though Vice President JD Vance notably declined to denounce them.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rebuked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuked. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
