REBUKE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does rebuke mean? 

• REBUKE (noun)
  The noun REBUKE has 1 sense:

1. an act or expression of criticism and censure

  Familiarity information: REBUKE used as a noun is very rare.

• REBUKE (verb)
  The verb REBUKE has 1 sense:

1. censure severely or angrily

  Familiarity information: REBUKE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REBUKE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An act or expression of criticism and censure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

rebuke; reprehension; reprimand; reproof; reproval

Context example:

he had to take the rebuke with a smile on his face

Hypernyms ("rebuke" is a kind of...):

criticism; unfavorable judgment (disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rebuke"):

riot act (a vigorous reprimand)

chiding; objurgation; scolding; tongue-lashing (rebuking a person harshly)

what for (a strong reprimand)

bawling out; castigation; chewing out; dressing down; earful; going-over; upbraiding (a severe scolding)

berating; blowing up (a severe rebuke)

reproach (a mild rebuke or criticism)

lecture; speech; talking to (a lengthy rebuke)

chastening; chastisement; correction (a rebuke for making a mistake)

admonishment; admonition; monition (a firm rebuke)

Derivation:

rebuke (censure severely or angrily)

• REBUKE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they rebuke    ... he / she / it rebukes   
Past simple: rebuked   
Past participle: rebuked   
-ing form: rebuking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Censure severely or angrily

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

bawl out; berate; call down; call on the carpet; chew out; chew up; chide; dress down; have words; jaw; lambast; lambaste; lecture; rag; rebuke; remonstrate; reprimand; scold; take to task; trounce

Context example:

The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup

Hypernyms (to "rebuke" is one way to...):

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "rebuke"):

castigate; chasten; chastise; correct; objurgate (censure severely)

brush down; tell off (reprimand)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot rebuke Sue

Derivation:

rebuke (an act or expression of criticism and censure)

rebuker (someone who finds fault or imputes blame)

 Context examples 

At this sweeping rebuke, which the cook had only pointed, the rest of the crew became uninterested and fell to work at one task or another.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Sinners told their sins to the pure-hearted old man and were both rebuked and saved.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In front stood the bow-men, ten deep, with a fringe of under-officers, who paced hither and thither marshalling the ranks with curt precept or short rebuke.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In his insistent crawling toward the light, he discovered in her a nose that with a sharp nudge administered rebuke, and later, a paw, that crushed him down and rolled him over and over with swift, calculating stroke.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Elizabeth's spirits were so high on this occasion, that though she did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help asking him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke either from the Archbishop, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing to dance.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

St. John did not rebuke our vivacity; but he escaped from it: he was seldom in the house; his parish was large, the population scattered, and he found daily business in visiting the sick and poor in its different districts.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Amy stood a minute, turning the leaves in her hand, reading on each some sweet rebuke for all heartburnings and uncharitableness of spirit.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

When we went in, and I had removed her bonnet and coat, I took her on my knee; kept her there an hour, allowing her to prattle as she liked: not rebuking even some little freedoms and trivialities into which she was apt to stray when much noticed, and which betrayed in her a superficiality of character, inherited probably from her mother, hardly congenial to an English mind.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

So, alternately beating and beaten, they made their dolorous way through the beautiful woods and under the amber arches of the fading beech-trees, where the calm strength and majesty of Nature might serve to rebuke the foolish energies and misspent strivings of mankind.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A startled or surprised look from one of you when I spoke sharply rebuked me more than any words could have done, and the love, respect, and confidence of my children was the sweetest reward I could receive for my efforts to be the woman I would have them copy.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)