rebuke
Americanverb (used with object)
-
rebukes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
rebuked,
past participle, past
-
rebuking
present participle
noun
-
rebukes
plural
verb
noun
Synonym Usage
See reproach.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
rebukesimple
-
rebukessimple
-
have rebukedperfect
-
has rebukedperfect
-
am rebukingprogressive
-
are rebukingprogressive
-
is rebukingprogressive
-
have been rebukingperfect progressive
-
has been rebukingperfect progressive
Past
-
rebukedsimple
-
had rebukedperfect
-
was rebukingprogressive
-
were rebukingprogressive
-
had been rebukingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rebuke
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English rebuken (verb), from Anglo-French rebuker ( Old French rebuchier ) “to beat back,” equivalent to re- re- + bucher “to beat, strike,” from Germanic
Explanation
If you receive a rebuke, it means that you have been reprimanded, or scolded. You're sure to get a rebuke if you forget to do your math homework four days in a row. The word rebuke can be a verb, meaning to sternly reprimand or scold, but it can also be a noun, because a rebuke is the result of being scolded. The root comes from the Old French rebuchier and means "to hack down," or "beat back." A rebuke, then, is meant to be critical and to chide — in today's terms, a rebuke is verbal smack-down!
Vocabulary lists containing rebuke
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The border closures have drawn a rare rebuke for Uganda from Africa CDC, the African Union’s health agency, which opposes travel bans because they disrupt the livelihoods of vulnerable people.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
But it serves as an unwitting rebuke to Chávez’s ultimate place in L.A. — a speck in a rich tapestry that was around before him and will exist long after.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
He called upon people to love their enemies, not rebuke them or disparage their existence.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026
Rama himself has published what appears to be a public rebuke to former Greek Prime Minister Aleksis Tsipras.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
Stung by the rebuke, the spectators would look momentarily embarrassed and quiet down for a few minutes.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
But such sharp rebukes may well suggest the former first minister's standing in the party has shrunk.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Public rebukes followed Hegseth’s decision last month to effectively fire Gen. Chris Donahue, a respected four-star commander who came up the ranks through the special forces.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
Canadian authorities tripled streaming companies’ required financial contributions, drawing rebukes from U.S. lobbying groups representing Hollywood and tech companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
The decrease is unlikely to put to bed the row over the steep pricing that also drew rebukes from football's governing body, FIFA.
From Barron's ● May 7, 2026
I once told you that, after years of being adored, it was hard for me to adjust to the harsh reality of grown-ups and rebukes.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
After he launched FFE last week, he was rebuked by every corner of the game.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
They will also be the first under new Federal Reserve boss Kevin Warsh after he last month replaced Jerome Powell, who was constantly rebuked by Trump for not cutting interest rates enough.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
Some sporting governing bodies have publicly rebuked athletes for choosing to compete in the games.
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
Heath and his siblings were rebuked by their neighbors, Heath said, to the point that his brother, Phil, told the township attorney he was thinking about resigning as supervisor.
From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2026
Now, Mary’s presence at the laboratory built on plantation land rebuked the shortsighted intolerance of her fellow Virginian.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Figures joins a small group of businesses rebuking the idea that influencer marketing is all about reaching as many people as possible.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
At its peak, there were over 6,000 Shakers, joining Ann in rebuking the gruesome, incalculable evils of war and preaching moral generosity.
From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2025
County first responders are demanding raises and rebuking politicians for not moving faster to grant them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2025
His stand-up routine included jokes about dating, autism and Tourette’s, and he got extra laughs after rebuking head judge Simon Cowell.
From BBC ● May 25, 2024
You are spoiled girls, she twinkled, as if rebuking a kitten.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
