CHASTEN Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of chasten are castigate , chastise , correct , discipline , and punish . While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued. // chastened by a landslide election defeat

Q: When would 'castigate' be a good substitute for 'chasten'?

The synonyms castigate and chasten are sometimes interchangeable, but castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure. // an editorial castigating the entire city council

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

The meanings of chastise and chasten largely overlap; however, 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 'correct' be used to replace 'chasten'?

The words correct and chasten can be used in similar contexts, but correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender. // the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Q: When might 'discipline' be a better fit than 'chasten'?

The words discipline and chasten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 'chasten'?

Although the words punish and chasten have much in common, punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing. // punished for stealing

chasten

verb

ˈchā-sᵊn

Definition of chasten

as in to punish

to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to humiliate

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

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How is the word chasten distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of chasten are castigate, chastise, correct, discipline, and punish. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

When would castigate be a good substitute for chasten?

The synonyms castigate and chasten are sometimes interchangeable, but castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When is chastise a more appropriate choice than chasten?

The meanings of chastise and chasten largely overlap; however, 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 correct be used to replace chasten?

The words correct and chasten can be used in similar contexts, but correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

When might discipline be a better fit than chasten?

The words discipline and chasten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 chasten?

Although the words punish and chasten have much in common, punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

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 chasten By now too many of us are wary of what’s being sold — sensitized by two years of deepfakes and soft slop, chastened by two decades of social media and rage-farming. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026 Further, chastened by the backlash, the Warren Court, for the next four years with rare exceptions, maintained the status quo on a broad array of issues. — Time, 14 Nov. 2025 Perhaps my sisters would say that my sojourn in Kansas and Missouri, and then all the way to Massachusetts to visit my dead husband’s family, chastened me. — Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026 Russia and China, though chastened by their inability to protect Venezuela, retain a strong interest in propping up Havana, given Cuba’s location just 90 miles south of Key West. — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chasten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chasten

Verb

Americans across the nation are being asked (or ordered) to conserve water, thanks to widespread drought made even worse by a punishing heat wave.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Congress cannot diminish their pay to punish an unpopular decision.

— Tom Campbell, Oc Register, 4 July 2026

Definition of punish

Verb

Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.

— Mark Osborne, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

The Chicago White Sox, a team many left for dead at the start of the year, embarrassed the Kansas City Royals Friday night, 22-1.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
But combined with Disney‘s embarrassing The Mandalorian and Grogu influencer stunt that backfired, a movie’s first reactions on social media are increasingly being met with equal amounts of fan skepticism.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026

Definition of embarrass

Browse Nearby Words

chastely

chasten

chastened

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“Chasten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chasten. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of chasten

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