Synonyms for rebuke

34 synonyms
2 antonyms

verb
noun

Most common

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

reprimand, scold, admonish, chide, reproach, reprove, censure, berate, chastise, lecture, condemn, blame, lambast UK, lamblast US, criticize UK US, criticise UK, castigate, dress down, remonstrate, lesson, bawl out, call down, have words, trounce

Noun

reproof, admonition, scolding, chastisement, punishment, reprehension, reproval, admonishment, castigation, upbraiding

Antonyms

accolade, congratulate

All antonyms of rebuke →

Definitions

v. 1
To criticise harshly; to reprove.
n. 1
A harsh criticism.

Forms

Plural: rebukes → reproofs, admonitions, scoldings, chastisements…
Past participle: rebuked
e.g. rebuked → reprimanded, scolded, admonished, chid…

Choose the right word

Rebuke, Blame, Censure, Disapproval, Comment or Criticism?

Blame, censure, and disapproval may either be felt or uttered; comment, criticism, rebuke, reflection, reprehension, and reproof are always expressed.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

reprimand The boss called Tatyana into his office to reprimand her.
scold I cannot scold Taninna. She's still a little girl.
admonish No words were able to admonish him.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
rebuke		rising
reprimand		steady
scold		rising
admonish		steady
chide		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

5 letters: blame¹, scold¹, chide¹
6 letters: lesson², berate²
7 letters: lecture², condemn², censure², trounce¹, reproof, reprove, lambast
8 letters: reproach², scolding², chastise², admonish³, lamblast, reproval
9 letters: criticize³, criticise, reprimand³, castigate³
10 letters: punishment³, admonition⁴, upbraiding
11 letters: remonstrate, castigation
12 letters: chastisement, admonishment⁴, reprehension

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (lesson² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: rembarrer