He took it for an implied rebuke.
Source: tatoeba (291502)
Rebuke
/ɹiˈbjuːk/
Synonyms for "rebuke" (236 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (48)
Noun(16 words)
abuseadmonishadmonishmentadmonitionbawl outberateberatingblameblowing upbring to bookcallcall downcall to accountcarpetcastigatecastigationcensure
Verb(15 words)
admonishedadmonishesadmonishingbawl outbawledberateberatesbitchedblastedcall downcall on the carpetcastigatedcastigatescastigatingcensured
Strong matches (70)
Verb(24 words)
chastisechastisementchewchew outchidechidingcomecondemncorrectcorrectioncriticismcriticizedisciplinedressdress downdressing downdressing-downearfulhave words withhell
Show 1 more word
Noun(25 words)
chastisementschastisingchidecondemnationscondemningcriticizingdemeritsdenouncementdenouncementsdenouncingdenunciationdenunciationsdingdisciplinary noticediscountenancedisfavordispraisedisprovaldoghousesdrubbing
Show 5 more words
Related words (118)
Verb(30 words)
Noun(39 words)
lambastinglecture onlylecture only instructionlecturesmeasure of displeasureopprobriumrakerapsrate sciencereamrebatorebuffsrebukesrebukingreprehensionreprimandingreprimandsreproachreproachesreprobate
lecturelessonmindobjurgateobjurgationpiecepunishpunishmentraprateratingread the riot actreprehendreprehensionreprimandreproachreprobationreproofreprovalreprove
Show 25 more words
revilerevilementscoldscoldingsermonset downset straightslapspankspankingspeakstraighten outtake downtake to tasktalking-totasktellticktick offtongue-lashingupbraidupbraidingvituperatewhat forwig
Adjective(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: reprimand, reproof, abuse, admonish, admonish.
- Sentence evidence is available for rebuke, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "rebuke".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "rebuke"
Keep "rebuke" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "rebuke" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "rebuke", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "rebuke" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesMore specific
8 entriesCollocations
8 entriesformal rebukeharsh rebukeissue a rebukepublic rebukereceive a rebukesevere rebukestern rebukeverbal rebuke
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
10 total sentences available.
You have done these things, and I kept silence. You thought that the "I AM" was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
Source: tatoeba (389482)
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Source: tatoeba (2790766)
She sat beside the reapers, and they passed her parched grain. She ate, was satisfied, and left some of it. When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her. Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her."
Source: tatoeba (7965840)
Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "rebuke"?
Closest matches include reprimand, reproof, abuse, admonish, admonish.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "rebuke"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.