chastise
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to discipline or punish, esp by beating
-
to scold severely
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
chastisementnoun
-
chastisernoun
-
nonchastisementnoun
-
self-chastisementnoun
-
self-chastiseverb (used with object)
-
chastisableadjective
-
unchastisableadjective
-
unchastisingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
chastisesimple
-
chastisessimple
-
have chastisedperfect
-
has chastisedperfect
-
am chastisingprogressive
-
are chastisingprogressive
-
is chastisingprogressive
-
have been chastisingperfect progressive
-
has been chastisingperfect progressive
Past
-
chastisedsimple
-
had chastisedperfect
-
was chastisingprogressive
-
were chastisingprogressive
-
had been chastisingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of chastise
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English chastisen, equivalent to chasti(en) “to chasten ” + -s-, of unknown origin + -en infinitive suffix
Explanation
Chastise is a fancy word for telling someone that something they did was really bad. If you pick your nose, your mom will probably yell at you. If you pick your nose in front of the Queen of England, your mom will chastise you. Back in the Middle Ages, chastise used to also come with a beating — that sense of the word has passed, and in fact, people tend to use chastise when they are trying to accuse someone else of overreacting. "You're chastising me for forgetting to feed the cat, but it's not like the cat died!"
Vocabulary lists containing chastise
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Critics of gold use this fact to chastise the proponents of a return to a gold-backed dollar.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2025
We chastise people for being unhealthy while building — or at least tolerating — a world where unhealthy options aren’t just available; they’re the default.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2025
Former NBC News executives took to social media to chastise the move as well.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2024
Jeremy Stahl: She really does seem to chastise the progressive justices.
From Slate ● Mar. 4, 2024
"I mislike the tone of your voice, my lo—Imp. I am the Lord of Harrenhal and a member of the king's council, who are you to chastise me like this?"
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
As one character gently chastises her, “People can surprise you, Sonny, but you have to let them.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Yet, as a “cradle Catholic,” he chastises the newly converted Mr. Vance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Judge Xinis' 22-page opinion chastises US officials for claiming that there was little they could do to remedy what they have described as an "administrative error" that led to his deportation.
From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2025
Her nitpicking boss chastises her for not overloading her uniform with incongruent buttons, or "flair," insisting she needs to "express herself."
From Salon ● Mar. 1, 2024
“Ayesha, be quiet,” her mother chastises, the fear transparent on her face.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
Monroe chastised Latrobe, asking, “do you know who I am, Sir?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
She argued that it’s okay to be single, but then also chastised the audience, “I think we love ourselves a little too much.”
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
The mum-of-two says some have "bullied" her for her post-baby body or commented on her "saggy tummy", while others have chastised her for being "too skinny".
From BBC ● May 13, 2026
The action came at the request of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who has repeatedly chastised the agency, saying that if it were a public company “regulators would shut them down.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026
Standing far above the sorrow cloud, Xan, in her clearheadedness, chastised herself.
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
And I mean, 50/50, Roy!” said Arturo, playfully chastising his younger brother.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
It invoked “The Godfather” in a 51-page presentation chastising Warner for sticking with the Netflix deal, writing, “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,” on a page about Paramount’s competing bid.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026
The leader has also openly expressed anger at the slow pace of some projects, chastising lazy officials and even firing his vice premier in public for alleged incompetence last week.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
Like I said, you want to come to the conversation from a place of trying to understand his decisions, not judging or chastising him for making them in the first place.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 14, 2026
Mrs. Dannenberg at her kitchen table, and my father chastising me for running to France.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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.
