chasten

verb

chas·​ten ˈchā-sᵊn 

chastened; chastening

ˈchās-niŋ,

ˈchā-sᵊn-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to correct by punishment or suffering : discipline

If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men

—2 Samuel 7: 14 (King James Version)

also : purify

2

a

: to prune (something, such as a work or style of art) of excess, pretense, or falsity : refine

b

: to cause to be more humble or restrained : subdue

He was chastened by his team's defeat.

chastener

ˈchās-nər 

ˈchā-sᵊn-ər

noun

Did you know?

Buck up, logophiles! There’s no need to fret if you have a hard time sussing out the finer distinctions between chasten, castigate, and chastise, three verbs with overlapping histories and meanings. All three come (via different routes) from the Latin verb castīgāre, meaning "to punish," and all have been used to refer to physical punishment, but today are more likely to refer to a verbal dressing-down than a rap on the knuckles (or worse). However, while one is usually castigated or chastised by another person, one can be chastened—made to feel humility or embarrassment—by a humbling situation or experience. Just don’t let encountering an unfamiliar or subtle word be one of them; that’s what we’re here for.

Synonyms

• castigate
• chastise
• correct
• discipline
• penalize
• punish

Choose the Right Synonym for chasten

punish, chastise, castigate, chasten, discipline, correct mean to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing.

punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Examples of chasten in a Sentence

chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner

the unexpected loss to a second-rate player really chastened the tournament's top-seeded tennis star

Recent Examples on the Web

In executing their arrest warrant—the first against a sitting South Korean President—law enforcement officials avoided a repeat of tense scenes from Jan. 3, when they were blocked from detaining Yoon for five-and-a-half hours by his security staff, before finally beating a chastening retreat. —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 15 Jan. 2025

As should be expected, Ancelotti was reminded about a chastening 0-4 defeat to Hansi Flick's men last time out at the Bernabeu. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025

That remains to be seen because, after a chastening first window as sporting director, having only arrived on July 4, the onus is on Mitchell to dovetail with Howe and bolster a first-team squad in need of quality and a refresh. —Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024

Sunday’s chastening 5-0 loss at home to Liverpool could have been even worse. —Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

extension with -en entry 2 of earlier chaste "to correct by punishment, discipline," going back to Middle English chasten, borrowed from Anglo-French chastier, castier, caster (also continental Old French castier, chastier, chastoier), going back to Latin castīgāre "to discipline for a fault or lapse, reprove, censure" — more at castigate

Note: Alongside a verb stem chaste in Middle English is a variant chasty, with the medial -i- of the French form taken as part of the stem.

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

chasten

verb

chas·​ten ˈchās-ᵊn 

chastened; chastening ˈchās-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to correct by punishment or suffering