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.
On more than one occasion the backdrop of the White House has served as a visible rebuke to the political drama playing out before it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 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
The unusual probe drew a sharp rebuke from California Atty.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026
Qatar called the attack "dangerous and irresponsible", while the United Arab Emirates offered a rare rebuke, calling it a "dangerous escalation".
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
“How very American, complaining about smoke,” Obinze said, and she could not tell whether he meant it as a rebuke or not.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
