SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
rebuke
verb
To express sharp disapproval of someone's behavior.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Express sharp disapproval
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topRebuke expresses disapproval directly. Chide is often milder, while berate suggests a more prolonged or forceful verbal attack.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See rebuke in use
The chair rebuked the member for interrupting the witness.
At a shared studio, Mina expressed indignation when another member displayed her unfinished sketch without asking. A joking remark that artists should enjoy free publicity became a provocation, intensifying her anger rather than addressing the permission issue. The coordinator then chose to rebuke the member for dismissing a concern the studio had already discussed.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license