CHASTISE Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'chastise' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of chastise are castigate , chasten , correct , discipline , and punish . While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation. // chastised his son for neglecting his studies

Q: When could 'castigate' be used to replace 'chastise'?

In some situations, the words castigate and chastise are roughly equivalent. However, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure. // an editorial castigating the entire city council

Q: When can 'chasten' be used instead of 'chastise'?

While the synonyms chasten and chastise are close in meaning, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued. // chastened by a landslide election defeat

Q: When might 'correct' be a better fit than 'chastise'?

While in some cases nearly identical to chastise , correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender. // the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Q: When is 'discipline' a more appropriate choice than 'chastise'?

Although the words discipline and chastise have much in common, discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control. // parents must discipline their children

Q: In what contexts can 'punish' take the place of 'chastise'?

The words punish and chastise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing. // punished for stealing

chastise

verb

ˈcha-ˌstīz

Definition of chastise next

as in to scold

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings a cold, distant father who rarely paid attention to his children except to chastise them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to punish

to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime the division of opinion regarding the appropriate way to chastise juvenile perpetrators of adult crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word chastise distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of chastise are castigate, chasten, correct, discipline, and punish. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

When could castigate be used to replace chastise?

In some situations, the words castigate and chastise are roughly equivalent. However, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When can chasten be used instead of chastise?

While the synonyms chasten and chastise are close in meaning, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

When might correct be a better fit than chastise?

While in some cases nearly identical to chastise, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than chastise?

Although the words discipline and chastise have much in common, discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

In what contexts can punish take the place of chastise?

The words punish and chastise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

Examples 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 chastise Private business owners and managers can also remember how not too many years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping chastised them for caring more about profits than the communist party’s agenda. —

Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 The one-time hero to election deniers, who was convicted in August, was unapologetic about what happened during the sentencing hearing Thursday – leading Judge Barrett to chastise her during a 15-minute speech that was shared widely online. —

Amy Beth Hanson, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2024 Many of Aesop’s characters use their dying breaths to chastise themselves for the error of their ways. —

Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 22 Aug. 2024 Yet, student groups at the UC Berkeley Law School that banned most Jews from speaking at their meetings have neither been penalized, nor even chastised. —

Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chastise

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastise

Verb

Still, watching Hannah scold him about everything, from 401(k)s to boiling water to phone bills, from ordering him to walk a dog that doesn’t belong to him to telling him that riding hotel pool furniture would give her the ick, was painful.

Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024
Dolores returns to scold her grandson for badmouthing her during the show’s Día de los Muertos episode, which airs on NBC on Friday, Oct. 25.

Brendan Le, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024