Synonyms of rebuking

rebuking

verb

present participle of rebuke

1

as in admonishing

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

• admonishing
• reprimanding
• scolding
• criticizing
• blaming
• chiding
• reproving
• reproaching
• mocking
• faulting
• condemning
• upbraiding
• getting on
• berating
• getting after
• ticking off
• attacking
• lecturing
• castigating
• censuring
• denouncing
• haranguing
• assailing
• crucifying
• lambasting
• excoriating
• burning one's ears
• ridiculing
• knocking
• flaying
• minimizing
• lashing
• slamming
• belittling
• disparaging
• deriding
• dressing down
• jawing
• chewing out
• railing (at or against)
• panning
• abusing
• scoffing
• keelhauling
• bad-mouthing
• blasting
• scorning
• scoring
• deprecating
• reprehending
• rating
• dissing
• putting down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approving
• endorsing
• sanctioning
• praising
• applauding
• saluting
• extolling
• lauding
• hailing
• touting
• OK'ing

2

as in scolding

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scolding
• reprimanding
• lecturing
• criticizing
• blaming
• upbraiding
• berating
• chastising
• admonishing
• attacking
• castigating
• mocking
• reproaching
• lambasting
• ragging
• flaying
• hammering
• calling down
• dressing down
• bawling out
• chiding
• ranting (at)
• railing (at or against)
• faulting
• reaming (out)
• jawing
• scoring
• basting
• keelhauling
• rating
• condemning
• tongue-lashing
• chewing out
• reproving
• denouncing
• slamming
• laying into
• reviling
• assailing
• crucifying
• reading the riot act (to)
• lashing
• excoriating
• knocking
• censuring
• ridiculing
• taking to task
• haranguing
• disparaging
• belittling
• blasting
• abusing
• remonstrating (with)
• panning
• scoffing
• scourging
• scorning
• bad-mouthing
• lacing (into)
• vituperating
• reprehending
• dissing
• putting down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approving
• endorsing
• sanctioning
• praising
• extolling
• lauding

3

as in reprimanding

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

• reprimanding
• censuring
• condemning
• denouncing
• punishing
• scolding
• criticizing
• reproving
• admonishing
• reproaching
• chastising
• objurgating
• calling to account
• upbraiding
• berating
• bringing to account
• castigating
• lecturing
• disparaging
• belittling
• lambasting
• ragging
• flaying
• cutting up
• dressing down
• bawling out
• deprecating
• railing (at or against)
• chewing out
• telling off
• jawing
• depreciating
• keelhauling
• scoring
• gibbeting
• rating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• citing
• endorsing
• commending
• honoring
• applauding
• praising
• hailing
• approving
• sanctioning
• acclaiming
• lauding
• eulogizing
• blessing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rebuking

Voters could also be rebuking those in office who have held power for a long time because of that voter anger. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Residents, however, voted in 2019 to require elections for city library projects over $25 million, rebuking the city. — Idaho Statesman, 30 Aug. 2026

Don Marshall, known for his core role on the ABC sci-fi series Land of the Giants, plays the hard-working young professional, who is subjected to an unseemly outpouring of prejudice that the Ingalls family is alone in rebuking. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Trump’s comments followed an increasingly bitter meeting with Senate Republicans that erupted into a shouting match behind closed doors on Wednesday, as the President angrily confronted members of his own party over the Senate’s vote rebuking his handling of the war in Iran. — Nik Popli, Time, 24 June 2026

Voters in the once-reliable Labor stronghold of Makerfield handed Burnham nearly 55% of the vote, rebuking both Starmer’s faltering government and surging right-wing challenger Reform UK. — Kwiyeon Ha, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

Beloved actor Ron Perlman fully leans into trying to make the contestants fail this task by forcing eye contact, asking them polite questions, rebuking their bad manners in ignoring him, and even doggedly getting into their personal space. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026

The conservative Justices rewarded this strategy, rebuking not Alabama but the lower court for not being deferential enough to a state that had repeatedly demonstrated its determination to delay and obstruct. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Medical schools and institutions must be at the forefront of teaching about the inequities that persist to this day — and equally at the forefront of rebuking studies like the hepatitis B vaccine trial. — Uzma Rentia, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026