chasten

[chey-suhn]

verb (used with object)

1. to inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement; chastise.

   Synonyms: punish, discipline
   Antonyms: indulge

2. to restrain; subdue.

   Age has chastened his violent temper.

   Synonyms: humble

3. to make chaste in style.

   Synonyms: simplify, purify

chasten

/ ˈtʃeɪsən /

verb

1. to bring to a state of submission; subdue; tame

2. to discipline or correct by punishment

3. to moderate; restrain; temper

Other Word Forms

• chastener noun
• chasteningly adverb
• chastenment noun
• unchastened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chasten¹

1520–30; chaste + -en ¹; replacing chaste (v.), Middle English chastien < Old French chastier < Latin castigāre; castigate

Word History and Origins

Origin of chasten¹

C16: from Old French chastier, from Latin castigāre; see _castigate

Example Sentences

This week, a chastened Summers found himself in different circumstances: standing in the well of a Harvard lecture hall, asking his students’ forgiveness as his professional life was unraveling.

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Read carefully in a press somewhat chastened by its previous misreporting and you learn a couple of things.

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For his team-mate, Sao Paulo was the latest in a series of chastening experiences.

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For Liverpool, this was a sobering, chastening experience.

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Max Verstappen said he could "forget about" winning the world championship after a chastening Saturday at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

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Related Words

• penalize 

When To Use

What does chasten mean?

To chasten is to discipline, punish, or severely criticize, especially with the intention of improving someone’s behavior.Chasten has many shades of meaning that are all somewhat similar. It can mean to tame or subdue, or to moderate or restrain someone’s behavior. In all cases, it typically involves some form of discipline or negative consequences for the person being chastened.Chasten is a relatively formal word, and so are its close synonyms (like chastise, castigate, and reprimand), but it’s probably used less commonly than they are.It’s often associated with Christian or other religious language due to its use in some translations of the Bible.Example: My grandfather grew up in a boarding school, where he was chastened for even the most minor infractions.