First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
chastise
verb chas·tise \(ˌ)chas-ˈtīz\
: to criticize (someone) harshly for doing something wrong
chas·tisedchas·tis·ing
Full Definition of CHASTISE
transitive verb
1
: to inflict punishment on (as by whipping)
2
: to censure severely : castigate
3
archaic : chasten 2
— chas·tise·ment \(ˌ)chas-ˈtīz-mənt also ˈchas-təz-\ noun
— chas·tis·er \(ˌ)chas-ˈtī-zər\ noun
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Origin of CHASTISE
Middle English chastisen, alteration of chasten
Related to CHASTISE
Synonym Discussion of CHASTISE
punish, chastise, castigate, chasten, discipline, correct mean to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing. punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing <punished for stealing>. chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation <chastised his son for neglecting his studies>. castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure <an editorial castigating the entire city council>. chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued <chastened by a landslide election defeat>. discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control <parents must discipline their children>. correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender <the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer>.
Rhymes with CHASTISE
abscise, advise, apprise, apprize, arise, assize, baptize, bite-size, breadthwise, capsize, clockwise, coastwise, cognize, comprise, crabwise, crack wise, crosswise, demise, despise, devise, disguise, disprize, door prize, downsize, earthrise, edgewise, emprise, endwise, excise, fanwise, franchise, full-size, grecize, high-rise, incise, king-size, leastwise, lengthwise, Levi's, life-size, likewise, low-rise, man-size, mid-rise, midsize, misprize, moonrise, nowise, outsize, piecewise, pint-size, premise, quantize, queen-size, remise, reprise, revise, rightsize, slantwise, streetwise, stylize, suffice, sunrise, surmise, surprise, trim size, twin-size, unwise, uprise
CHASTISEMENT Defined for Kids
chastise
verb chas·tise \cha-ˈstīz\
chas·tisedchas·tis·ing
Definition of CHASTISE for Kids
1
: to punish severely (as by whipping)
2
: to criticize harshly <The boy was chastised for his behavior.>
— chas·tise·ment \-mənt\ noun
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