English Meaning & Definitions
To rebuke or reprimand severely; to criticize someone harshly for their behavior.
- “The director chastised the team for their lack of preparation before the product launch.”
- “He was publicly chastised by the board of ethics for his conflict of interest.”
To punish physically, especially by beating or whipping (now largely archaic or formal).
- “In earlier centuries, it was common for masters to chastise their apprentices for minor mistakes.”
- “The historical text described how the prisoners were chastised for attempting to escape.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “chastise”.
Derived from Middle English 'chastisen', an extension of 'chastien' (to chasten). This originated from the Old French 'chastier', which stems from the Latin 'castigare', meaning 'to make pure' or 'to correct'. The Latin root is a compound of 'castus' (pure) and 'agere' (to do or drive).
Think of 'chase' + 'ice'. If you do something wrong, someone might chase you down and give you an icy, cold scolding to chastise you.
Frequently Asked Questions About “chastise”
1. What is the meaning of “chastise” in English?
In English, chastise (verb) is defined as: “To rebuke or reprimand severely; to criticize someone harshly for their behavior.”.
2. How do you use “chastise” in a sentence?
“The director chastised the team for their lack of preparation before the product launch.”
3. What are English synonyms of “chastise”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “chastise”?
Derived from Middle English 'chastisen', an extension of 'chastien' (to chasten). This originated from the Old French 'chastier', which stems from the Latin 'castigare', meaning 'to make pure' or 'to correct'. The Latin root is a compound of 'castus' (pure) and 'agere' (to do or drive).
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
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A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.