chastise
Verbally dress down
To chastise is to scold or punish severely, especially for a moral failing or breach of conduct: The coach chastised the players for their lack of effort.
The word carries a formal, somewhat old-fashioned tone and implies the chastiser holds authority over the chastised.
It suggests rebuke meant to correct behavior rather than mere criticism.
Rebuke harshly
- admonishReprove with counsel
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- berateCriticize severely and lengthily
- upbraidCriticize harshly, verbally
censure · reproach · chide · reprove · criticize · lecture · tell off · dress down
Publicly declare wrongdoing
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- decryOpenly criticize harshly
- deploreCondemn as wrong
excoriate · lambaste · vilify · revile · pillory · denigrate · opprobrium · recrimination
Strikes or aerates
- flogBeat with a whip
- lashStrike or bind
- flagellateTo whip or scourge
- spankSlap on rear
cane · paddle · birch · switch · thrash · beat · smack · strike
Impose a disadvantage for wrongdoing
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
correction · punitive · penalty · consequences · comeuppance · just deserts · penance · atonement
scold
Rebuke harshly
- admonishReprove with counsel
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- berateCriticize severely and lengthily
upbraid · censure · reproach · chide · reprove · criticize · lecture · tell off · dress down · take to task
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
deplore · excoriate · lambaste · vilify · revile · pillory · denigrate · opprobrium · recrimination · aspersions
whip
Strikes or aerates
- flogBeat with a whip
- lashStrike or bind
- flagellateTo whip or scourge
spank · cane · paddle · birch · switch · thrash · beat · smack · strike · strap
penalize
Impose a disadvantage for wrongdoing
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
retribution · correction · punitive · penalty · consequences · comeuppance · just deserts · penance · atonement · teach a lesson
stern
Strict or ship's aft
firm · strict · unsparing · withering · scathing · biting · cutting · acerbic · acrimonious · disapproving
- confrontationsargue, fight, clash, quarrel, dispute
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- mockingmock, ridicule, tease, taunt, jeer
chastised, chastisement, chastising, chastises, chastiser, chastisers, chastisements