verb
chastise
cha-STYZ
Chastise (verb) means to criticise or scold someone sharply for something they did wrong. Example: “The coach chastised the team for their lack of effort.”
verb
1
To criticise or scold someone sharply for something they did wrong.
"The coach chastised the team for their lack of effort."
"She chastised herself for forgetting the appointment."
How to use chastise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo tell someone off firmly for doing something wrong.
Common mistake
More formal and severe than "tell off" — used in writing to describe strong, often public, criticism.
Common pairings
chastise someone for
publicly chastised
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- chastises
- Past tense
- chastised
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The coach _____ the team for their lack of effort.
Etymology
From Old French chastier, from Latin castigare — related to "chasten" and "castigate."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for chastise
See all rhymes for chastise →Frequently asked questions
What does “chastise” mean?
The word “chastise” means to criticise or scold someone sharply for something they did wrong. In plain terms, to tell someone off firmly for doing something wrong.
How do you pronounce “chastise”?
“Chastise” is pronounced cha-STYZ (/ˈt͡ʃæstaɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “chastise” in a sentence?
Here is “chastise” used in a sentence: “The coach chastised the team for their lack of effort.”
What part of speech is “chastise”?
“Chastise” is a verb.
Where does the word “chastise” come from?
The word “chastise” comes from Latin. From Old French chastier, from Latin castigare — related to "chasten" and "castigate.".
