as in reprimands
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in admonishes
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 scolds
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 censures
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
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Recent Examples of rebukes
Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
While the would-be leaders of France and Germany issued sharp rebukes to Trump, the opposition in central and eastern Europe was more muted.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
The exchange marked one of Altman’s sharpest public rebukes of Musk to date.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
Top Republican lawmakers issued rare rebukes of the president over the action, which was also denounced by every living former Fed chair.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
House Republicans are poised to deliver two rare rebukes of Trump on Thursday.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Any attempt by state Democrats to cross the community, such as by applying greater scrutiny to their business ventures, could be met with electoral rebukes.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
The delay drew widespread rebukes from Democrats.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Bondi’s department has not issued public statements addressing the pattern of judicial rebukes.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2026
The post is the latest in a series of public rebukes Young has aimed at Trump over the years.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 10 Jan. 2026
Cancellations soon began to mount — as did Kennedy Center‘s rebukes against the artists who chose not to appear.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The clash carries potential legal consequences, ongoing FBI and Pentagon investigations, bipartisan rebukes and raises critical questions about civilian control of the military, free speech and the limits of presidential authority.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
An homage to millions of anonymous victims, the work implicitly rebukes the nearby figurative sculptures of slaveholders.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
In the father-daughter opening scene, Willa rebukes her loving, but paranoid stoner father for his lifestyle.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Harris rebukes Biden over Gaza response The former vice president also rebuked Biden over his response to the ongoing war in Gaza.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
Public sentiment seemingly reached a turning point in July as reports of famine and Israeli soldiers firing on food lines in Gaza drove even sympathetic Democrats to issue rebukes.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
Pacheco recorded the police visit to her home in a video that went viral and prompted rebukes from free-speech advocates and candidates for Florida governor.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
While the would-be leaders of France and Germany issued sharp rebukes to Trump, the opposition in central and eastern Europe was more muted.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
The exchange marked one of Altman’s sharpest public rebukes of Musk to date.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
Top Republican lawmakers issued rare rebukes of the president over the action, which was also denounced by every living former Fed chair.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
House Republicans are poised to deliver two rare rebukes of Trump on Thursday.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Any attempt by state Democrats to cross the community, such as by applying greater scrutiny to their business ventures, could be met with electoral rebukes.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
The delay drew widespread rebukes from Democrats.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Bondi’s department has not issued public statements addressing the pattern of judicial rebukes.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
That last comment drew rebukes from no less than former Heat players Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem during their work on Amazon Prime’s NBA studio coverage.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2026
The post is the latest in a series of public rebukes Young has aimed at Trump over the years.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 10 Jan. 2026
Cancellations soon began to mount — as did Kennedy Center‘s rebukes against the artists who chose not to appear.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The clash carries potential legal consequences, ongoing FBI and Pentagon investigations, bipartisan rebukes and raises critical questions about civilian control of the military, free speech and the limits of presidential authority.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
An homage to millions of anonymous victims, the work implicitly rebukes the nearby figurative sculptures of slaveholders.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
In the father-daughter opening scene, Willa rebukes her loving, but paranoid stoner father for his lifestyle.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Harris rebukes Biden over Gaza response The former vice president also rebuked Biden over his response to the ongoing war in Gaza.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
Public sentiment seemingly reached a turning point in July as reports of famine and Israeli soldiers firing on food lines in Gaza drove even sympathetic Democrats to issue rebukes.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebukes
Noun
-
The former directors also criticized Saintremy’s reprimands from the city, stating a key function of her role is to promote events at the cultural center and that means speaking with media.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
-
When managers are running on empty, small frustrations turn into public reprimands, and reasonable requests start to feel personal.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Consequently, the conference is imposing a $5,000 fine and admonishes all institutions to use the ‘out’ designation only if there are no circumstances under which a student-athlete could participate in a game.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The report admonishes the Alameda County foster care system for ongoing structural deficiencies, including understaffing and poor record-keeping, while also noting that the agency’s plan to address service gaps may still not be enough to bring it up to standard.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While some online scolds didn’t like Johnson’s profanity, this has played well in Chicago, a city that has been ravenous for a winning Bears team since the 20th Super Bowl.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Or on Bluesky with the joke scolds, or on Mastodon with the Linux hackers, or on Threads with the voice-forward brands?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This time, condemnations flowed from across the spectrum — along with demands for an apology that had not come by late afternoon.—
Bill Barrow,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Khalil has repeatedly denied the characterizations of his criticism of Israel and pointed to his public condemnations long before his arrest of bigotry against Jews.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The report criticizes the county bringing electrical infrastructure to PortMiami that allows cruise ships to shut down their smog-producing generators while docked, a $125 million project that received $20 million from the state’s Department of Transportation.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Continue reading … NEWSROOM REVOLT – Tensions rise at '60 Minutes' as Scott Pelley reportedly criticizes Bari Weiss.—
,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Simon Maghakyan lectures on the 20th anniversary of the destruction of Djulfa in December 2025.—
Simon Maghakyan,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In her car, Jessica Gabriel’s Lady is an avid listener of DJ Revolution, a fictional radio DJ who lectures passionately about the struggles of modern-day life in Nigeria.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Japanese Buddhists expanded on this idea to claim that the pollution of menstrual blood alone led to rebirth in the Blood Pond Hell, which condemns all menstruating women to this kind of suffering.—
Megan Bryson,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The activists’ statement condemns the Iranian government’s deadly campaign against civilian protestors.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Aside from the financial cost to the city, Blain’s behavior prompted several council actions, including two censures.—
Susan Gill Vardon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Dec. 2025
-
Some rank-and-file lawmakers also agree that censures are losing their punch.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebukes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebukes. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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