rebuke
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb
noun
Related Words
See reproach.
Other Word Forms
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
The rebuke underscores tensions within the administration as it grapples with the economic fallout from the conflict, which has rattled global energy markets.
From Barron's • Apr. 21, 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 Sora discontinuation is a rebuke to OpenAI’s previous strategy, which involved a dizzying array of product launches that created a complicated organizational structure and competing priorities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
He checked himself in some confusion and, to forestall Bigwig’s rebuke, spoke to Hazel at once.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
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.
