chasten
verb (used with object)
to inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement; chastise.
was chastening
-
past progressiveof chasten.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Their return - the longest gap between games by a side in Premier League history - and first assignment was chastening and a reminder that survival will be no easy task.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Last week's defeat in Rajkot was chastening - a real thumping that I analysed at the time - but overall this series has not been a thrashing like the two that preceded it.
From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2024
The Rev. Willie McLaurin, interim president of the SBC executive committee, and Rolland Slade, its chairman, said Sunday afternoon that the report was chastening.
From Washington Times ● May 22, 2022
For a city with such rich athletics heritage to produce such small crowds, even on the final weekend, was chastening.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2014
Quin, on his part, was for the first time turning a critical eye on his own achievements in relation to those of bigger and abler men, and the result was chastening.
From Quin by Alice Caldwell Hegan Rice
