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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

chastise

Verb

IPA /tʃæˈstaɪz/

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Meaning in plain English

To tell someone firmly that they have done something wrong.

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Pronunciation

chastise/tʃæˈstaɪz/

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  1. Someone breaks an agreed rule

  2. Another person sharply rebukes them

To chastise someone in this sense is to speak to them with strong disapproval.

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  1. She chastised her brother for leaving the gate open.
  2. The supervisor chastised the team for ignoring the agreed procedure.

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To tell someone firmly that they have done something wrong.
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chastise — To tell someone firmly that they have done something wrong.

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To tell someone firmly that they have done something wrong.

Compare: She chastised her brother for leaving the gate open.

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Word origin

Ultimately related to Latin castigare, meaning to reprimand or correct.

Did you know?

Chastise someone for doing something identifies the behaviour being criticised.

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@englishskillstudio

chastise

/tʃæˈstaɪz/ (Verb)

“Formal: this lesson uses the verbal criticism sense. The word also has an old-fashioned sense involving physical punishment.”

englishskillstudio.com