as in condemnation
an often public or formal expression of disapproval
delivered a stinging rebuke to the Congress, calling for an end to backstabbing and arguing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to reprimand
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scold
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 to censure
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 rebuke
Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
The forensic report has not been made public, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials have divulged details about their deaths, drawing a public rebuke from the children's aunt.
—Itay Stern, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
In this case, the line will not be straight, so better to recognize than to rebuke.
—Daniel Yergin, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Noun
Lin also issued a rebuke over the tariffs levied on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods introduced by President during his first term and maintained by the Biden administration.
—Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
The forensic report has not been made public, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials have divulged details about their deaths, drawing a public rebuke from the children's aunt.
—Itay Stern, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
And other times, actors won’t show up at all, preferring to send activists in their place to publicly rebuke their industry’s highest honor.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
In this case, the line will not be straight, so better to recognize than to rebuke.
—Daniel Yergin, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebuke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebuke
Noun
-
Democrats in Congress appeared unified in their condemnation of the Oval Office meeting, viewing Trump and Vance's attacks on Zelenskyy as either aiding Putin or seeking to impress him.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
-
The massacres brought condemnations from the U.S. and Israel, while the European Union sought to retain a neutral stance.—
Brady Knox,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The controversy is intensifying, with U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts having now publicly reprimanded the president after a social media post in which Trump called for the impeachment of Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. — the ...—
Andrew C. McCarthy,
National Review,
19 Mar. 2025
-
At the time, the House of Representatives, with the Democrats holding the majority, voted to reprimand Wilson, who later issued an apology to Obama.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
According to Smith, James, who approached him in the third quarter during a timeout, scolded him for his commentary regarding his son and teammate, Bronny James.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Michelle Obama playfully scolded her husband, Barack Obama, on her new podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Libby was censured by the state House of Representatives on Feb. 25 in a partisan 75-70 vote.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
12 Mar. 2025
-
When Republican state representative Laurel Libby brought this case to light, her colleagues voted to censure her, overstepping their bounds in the most un-American way possible.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The judge also admonished state officials for refusing to make the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol publicly available.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
-
At the White House on Friday, Vance also admonished Zelenskyy for not expressing gratitude to the United States.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Vance, who lectures U.S. allies about how to run their affairs, reminds us of every rich guy from suburban Pittsburgh who visits the Amalfi Coast in the summer, drives up the pedestrianized streets, and then complains that the pasta is too chewy and there’s no AC in his 15th-century villa.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Obama himself had to lecture black men testily about the need to turn out for Harris, suggesting their reluctance was due to sexism, but Biden’s numbers with this demographic were worse.—
W. James Antle III,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
President Donald Trump in his election campaign condemned student protests against Israel's military action in Gaza, which followed the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Immediately, a slew of over 400 A-list Hollywood power players condemned such an action.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have sharply criticized the other Supreme Court judges for declining to hear a case called Alabama v. California.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Edelman sharply criticized that decision in an interview that aired last week on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebuke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebuke. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share