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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chastising
Melissa Willets, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
This after having spent days talking about the possibility of ceding Ukrainian territory as part of some sort of agreement, and chastising Ukraine — invaded unprovoked by a much larger neighbor — of starting the war itself.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
If your child has already tried the trend, according to experts, parents should refrain from chastising them or using scare tactics.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastising
Adjective
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The move follows last month’s imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian goods, which the White House justified as a punitive measure for India’s importation of Russian oil.—
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Iran issued a warning to world powers as the United Nations Security Council prepared to vote Friday on whether to permanently lift sanctions, pushing back against threats to snap back punitive measures over its nuclear program.—
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Shipp is tasked with scolding her father and delivering leaden exposition.—
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When an authority is actively suppressing or punishing speech itself, the space open to debate gets much smaller very quickly.—
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Over on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show, the talk was all about rebuffing notions that Comey’s yet unseen indictment is all about Trump punishing his critics.—
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The same woman Don had been lecturing about beer.—
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The following photos feature him reading on a train, posing with students, standing next to a sculpture and lecturing in front of the class.—
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After making the initial comments during the Mets' win over the Cubs on Tuesday, Cohen returned to the SNY broadcast booth on Thursday for his first call since criticizing the rookie for missing the game for Kirk's memorial.—
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Among those criticizing the police union were members of Black Leaders Organizing Communities, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Voces de la Frontera.—
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Right now, congressional leaders are busy blaming one another for the looming shutdown, but no clear path is emerging for how funding might be approved.—
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Constantly blaming others when mistakes are made, or obstacles arise, is a surefire sign that someone doesn’t have emotional intelligence — a trait with a strong correlation to workplace success — according to bestselling authors and communication experts Kathy and Ross Petras.—
Cite this Entry
“Chastising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastising. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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