chastise
verb
chas·tise ˈcha-ˌstīz 
(ˌ)cha-ˈstīz
(ˌ)cha-ˈstīz chastised; chastising
transitive verb
1
: to censure severely : castigate
The coach chastised the players for their mistakes.
2
: to inflict punishment on (as by whipping)
3
archaic : chasten sense 2
chastisement
(ˌ)cha-ˈstīz-mənt
noun also ˈchas-təz-
chastiser
(ˌ)cha-ˈstī-zər
noun 
Did you know?
There are many words to express the infliction of a penalty in return for wrongdoing—for example, chastise, castigate, chasten, correct, discipline, and punish. Of these, chastise, chasten, and castigate share similar origins as well as similar meanings. Chastise developed as an altered form of chasten, which comes from the Anglo-French chastier, which has its roots in the Latin verb castigare, which also gave English the word castigate.
Synonyms
- baste
- bawl out
- berate
- call down
- castigate
- chew out
- dress down
- flay
- hammer
- jaw
- keelhaul
- lambaste
- lambast
- lecture
- rag
- rail (at or against)
- rant (at)
- rate
- ream (out)
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- scold
- score
- tongue-lash
- upbraid
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The waiter was chastised for forgetting the customer's order. The coach is always chastising the players for minor mistakes.
Recent Examples on the Web The couple’s conclusions prompted Griffin to chastise his own clerk, Robyn Holmes, a Republican who has thirty years of experience running elections in the county. 
Annie Gowen, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 The couple’s conclusions prompted Griffin to chastise his own clerk, Robyn Holmes, a Republican who has thirty years of experience running elections in the county. Annie Gowen, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Although the plaintiff in Ricard v. USD 475 was a teacher, Judge Teeter went out of her way to chastise the school’s intrusion on parental rights. Michael Toth, WSJ, 27 July 2022 Or does one chastise and ostracize golfers for selling out to a tour where the financial backing for their events comes from a country with an abysmal human rights record? Patrick Rishe, Forbes, 9 June 2022 In such a situation, a harshly self-critical parent may punish or chastise the child while a compassionate parent might validate the child’s feelings and try to support her. Mark Travers, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Inside, after the board cut public comment early by one hour in order to rush a vote, a trans woman interrupted to chastise the board. Melissa Gira Grant, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022 European policymakers are also implementing or considering windfall taxes on energy companies to chastise them for not doing enough to make more oil and gas available. Tim Mcdonnell, Quartz, 29 July 2022 China won't publicly chastise the Saudis for murdering a journalist, as Biden did. Frida Ghitis, CNN, 16 July 2022 See More
Annie Gowen, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 The couple’s conclusions prompted Griffin to chastise his own clerk, Robyn Holmes, a Republican who has thirty years of experience running elections in the county. Annie Gowen, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Although the plaintiff in Ricard v. USD 475 was a teacher, Judge Teeter went out of her way to chastise the school’s intrusion on parental rights. Michael Toth, WSJ, 27 July 2022 Or does one chastise and ostracize golfers for selling out to a tour where the financial backing for their events comes from a country with an abysmal human rights record? Patrick Rishe, Forbes, 9 June 2022 In such a situation, a harshly self-critical parent may punish or chastise the child while a compassionate parent might validate the child’s feelings and try to support her. Mark Travers, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Inside, after the board cut public comment early by one hour in order to rush a vote, a trans woman interrupted to chastise the board. Melissa Gira Grant, The New Republic, 9 Aug. 2022 European policymakers are also implementing or considering windfall taxes on energy companies to chastise them for not doing enough to make more oil and gas available. Tim Mcdonnell, Quartz, 29 July 2022 China won't publicly chastise the Saudis for murdering a journalist, as Biden did. Frida Ghitis, CNN, 16 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English chastisen, alteration of chasten — see chasten
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
chastise
verb
chas·tise cha-ˈstīz
chastised; chastising
1
: to punish severely (as by whipping)
2
: to criticize harshly
The boy was chastised for his behavior.
chastisement
noun
as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense missing the field trip should be sufficient chastisement for the schoolyard fight Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- punishment
- wrath
- penalty
- castigation
- correction
- comeuppance
- discipline
- sentence
- retribution
- condemnation
- reprimand
- retaliation
- vengeance
- nemesis
- revenge
- reprisal
- assessment
- rebuke
- desert(s)
- censure
- damnation
- reproof
- criticism
- fine
- imprisonment
- example
- denouncement
- incarceration
- confinement
- mulct
- charge
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pardon
- indemnity
- vindication
- parole
- amnesty
- acquittal
- exemption
- exoneration
- immunity
- impunity
- forgiveness
- exculpation
- release
- absolution
- remission
- reprieve
- commutation
- disregard
- condonation
- remitment
- overlooking