chasten
verb (used with object)
to inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement; chastise.
had chastened
-
past perfectof chasten.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Watching the horror movie increased the students’ aversion to risk by roughly as much as the financial crisis had chastened the bank’s clients, although not among those who claimed to like horror movies.
From Economist ● Jan. 23, 2014
The inscrutable voter, who had chastened them all in 1948, seemed even more inscrutable in 1950.
From Time Magazine Archive
Affliction had chastened his mind; he had learned from experience to submit to the visitations of Providence; and he sought and found strength and relief in the consolations of religion.
From The History of England from the First Invasion by the Romans to the Accession of King George the Fifth Volume 8 by Hilaire Belloc
The events of the preceding autumn had chastened and matured both of the genially irresponsible young men and the resultant change edified their immediate relatives even while it caused them to exhibit unflattering astonishment.
From The Fifth Ace by George W. Gage
Maseden had already weighed that very question, but the utter collapse of the voyage on which he had founded such high hopes had chastened his pride.
From His Unknown Wife by Louis Tracy
