as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
a chastening hour spent cleaning floors should discourage them from further pranks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in condemnation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in punishing
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humiliating
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the unexpected loss to a second-rate player really chastened the tournament's top-seeded tennis star
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 chastening
Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
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
Speaking to me more recently, Reiss recalled a chastening encounter with an old classmate.
—Darryn King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
Los Blancos could have undone some of the damage done by a 0-4 chastening at the hands of bitter rival FC Barcelona with a statement win over Ancelotti's former employers AC Milan in the Champions League.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Channel 4 posted its biggest deficit of all time last year in what was a chastening financial year, with content boss Ian Katz deciding to reject his bonus.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
Sunday’s chastening 5-0 loss at home to Liverpool could have been even worse.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
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
Speaking to me more recently, Reiss recalled a chastening encounter with an old classmate.
—Darryn King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
Los Blancos could have undone some of the damage done by a 0-4 chastening at the hands of bitter rival FC Barcelona with a statement win over Ancelotti's former employers AC Milan in the Champions League.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Channel 4 posted its biggest deficit of all time last year in what was a chastening financial year, with content boss Ian Katz deciding to reject his bonus.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastening
Adjective
-
In addition to their direct effects, which economists have warned could increase the likelihood of a recession in 2025, there are additional concerns about the impacts of America's trading partners' responding with their punitive trade measures.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The county’s approach under Book, argues Peery, is superficial — rotating people in and out of shelters without pushing for dramatic changes — and punitive.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
As news of the article's removal drew widespread condemnation on social media, Ullyot released a statement attempting to explain the administration's rationale.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Mahmoud Khalil's detention by ICE agents supervised by the White House has drawn widespread condemnation from civil rights and legal advocacy groups.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But punishing that behavior means bringing the hammer down on Vietnam, hardly a step that would win Washington strategic support in Hanoi, where a new leadership dominated by public security and military officials actually sees eye to eye with China in some areas.—
Evan A. Feigenbaum,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
-
In an interview with The Athletic last month, Diggins described the feeling of finishing one of the most punishing endurance tests in all of sports.—
Zack Pierce,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Many of the conspiracy theories have prompted FEMA to create a page on its site discrediting rumors and false information about its response to Hurricane Helene.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
14 Oct. 2024
-
Still, the United States didn’t recognize Haiti as a nation until 1862, during the Civil War, when American leadership was looking for any support in discrediting slavery.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes,
10 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
This assessment argues that the impact of tariff levels perhaps rising to a level not seen in a century could lead to supply chain dislocation.—
Simon Moore,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The ongoing investigation will include a metallurgical analysis of the wing, assessment of pilot procedures, and evaluation of the passenger evacuation process.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Is a draft during a time of war an imposition on one’s individual liberty?—
Chris Talgo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The concern among many is that without a rapid imposition of control, the country and economy could spin out of control, leaving current and future generations to deal with the aftermath.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Judges have threatened to use contempt findings and fines, and Pildes said those warnings can be serious.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2025
-
In Oklahoma, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt mentioned the need to create better outcomes through fines and fees reform, plus possibly abolishing debtors prisons.—
Taylor Millard,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chastening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastening. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share