as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
a chastising lecture on the proper care and feeding of the dog
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in scolding
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in punishing
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chastising
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
So the painting, which is an image of a maternal figure chastising her child, kind of foreshadows the plot.
—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 June 2026
The governor took to social media on June 24, chastising the president for canceling the bipartisan housing reform package.
—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Some have been more vocal than others, publicly chastising him for his opacity ahead of what is expected to be a competitive general election race.
—
Connor Greene,
Time,
29 May 2026
Almost immediately after releasing Einstein, Paliwal started receiving emails from professors chastising him for creating a tool seemingly designed to perpetuate academic fraud.
—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, the newest major candidate to enter the race, hewed toward partisan middle ground, chastising leaders in Sacramento for allowing the state budget to balloon without tangible improvements to housing affordability, homelessness and public schools.
—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, instead of chastising their petulant colleagues, nearly every other Democratic politician has decided to join them in thrashing about on the floor.
—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Feb. 2026
There is inevitably going to be an onslaught of thinkpieces and TikTok rants dedicated to chastising this casting.
—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
Daemon chastising Ulf and Hugh over their disobedience, sowing the seeds of their discontent.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
So the painting, which is an image of a maternal figure chastising her child, kind of foreshadows the plot.
—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 June 2026
The governor took to social media on June 24, chastising the president for canceling the bipartisan housing reform package.
—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Some have been more vocal than others, publicly chastising him for his opacity ahead of what is expected to be a competitive general election race.
—
Connor Greene,
Time,
29 May 2026
Almost immediately after releasing Einstein, Paliwal started receiving emails from professors chastising him for creating a tool seemingly designed to perpetuate academic fraud.
—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, the newest major candidate to enter the race, hewed toward partisan middle ground, chastising leaders in Sacramento for allowing the state budget to balloon without tangible improvements to housing affordability, homelessness and public schools.
—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately, instead of chastising their petulant colleagues, nearly every other Democratic politician has decided to join them in thrashing about on the floor.
—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Feb. 2026
There is inevitably going to be an onslaught of thinkpieces and TikTok rants dedicated to chastising this casting.
—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
12 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastising
Adjective
-
Woods is seeking compensatory, punitive, and statutory damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
-
The Thunder traded guards Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, respectively, shedding their contracts to try to duck under the NBA’s punitive second-apron threshold.
Verb
-
This ancient poem isn’t interested in scolding women for their sexuality, but in the establishment of honor in the elite household.
-
The princess hilariously put her little brother in his place by scolding him.
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.
-
What Argentina don’t do particularly proficiently, for all their strengths, is offer a serious threat on the counter-attack, punishing opponents for pushing forward.
Verb
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College professors spend less time lecturing than a typical sportswriter creating fake controversies to criticize.
-
If and until that day comes, there will be fingerpointing, lecturing and posturing, all of which has flowed freely in the wake of the Sorsby decision.
Verb
-
Her Volumnia bellows at her meek daughter-in-law, Virgilia (Justine Faith) as though reprimanding an incompetent private.
-
Earlier this week, Scott Agness claimed his press credentials were revoked by the team after his reporting led to the WNBA reprimanding the Fever for not being transparent about Clark’s health status during a game on May 20.
Verb
-
Acknowledging and even criticizing our mistakes of the past doesn’t cheapen one’s love for the United States.
-
The movie continues its tradition of addressing social issues, this time focusing on human equality and colonial looting, with pointed dialogue criticizing the British Empire.
Verb
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It should be noted that this is not about blaming medication or the people who rely on it.
-
The victim's mother also addressed the jury, blaming Rullan for her son's depression and anxiety and describing the emotional toll the abuse had taken on their family.
Cite this Entry
“Chastising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastising. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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