rebuke
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb
noun
Related Words
See reproach.
Other Word Forms
- rebukable adjective
- rebuker noun
- rebukingly adverb
- unrebukable adjective
- unrebuked adjective
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.
But outlets were more direct in their rebuke of the situation.
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026
But the rebuke didn’t come out of the blue.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
The decision comes as a rebuke to federal regulators.
From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026
Amid all the big collisions, a gentle shove and a not-so-gentle rebuke generated the most headlines over the weekend.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
As Mrs. Caruthers raised the cup, Ophie sank into a deep curtsy, eyes downcast as her heart pounded while she waited for the inevitable rebuke.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
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.
