as in reprimands
an often public or formal expression of disapproval
delivered a stinging rebuke to the Congress, calling for an end to backstabbing and arguing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in admonishes
to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault
the father was forced to rebuke his son for the spendthrift ways he had adopted since arriving at college
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scolds
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
strongly rebuked the girl for playing with matches
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3
as in censures
to express public or formal disapproval of
in a rare move, the state's supreme court rebuked the governor for trying to circumvent one of its recent rulings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebukes
Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Any attempt by state Democrats to cross the community, such as by applying greater scrutiny to their business ventures, could be met with electoral rebukes.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
The delay drew widespread rebukes from Democrats.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Bondi’s department has not issued public statements addressing the pattern of judicial rebukes.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
The remarks rank among the Church’s sharpest rebukes of the war.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The show has reaped major rating success in recent weeks and sparked sharp rebukes from the White House and other conservatives.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025
But the string of rebukes has fueled speculation that residents serving on grand juries are using their votes to protest against the White House’s surge.
—Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
At the same time, US technological advantages have sparked sharp rebukes and a push to rapidly ramp up capabilities in Beijing.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025
Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
An homage to millions of anonymous victims, the work implicitly rebukes the nearby figurative sculptures of slaveholders.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
In the father-daughter opening scene, Willa rebukes her loving, but paranoid stoner father for his lifestyle.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Harris rebukes Biden over Gaza response The former vice president also rebuked Biden over his response to the ongoing war in Gaza.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
Public sentiment seemingly reached a turning point in July as reports of famine and Israeli soldiers firing on food lines in Gaza drove even sympathetic Democrats to issue rebukes.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Amnesty also argues that the ban suppresses expression across the wider pro-Palestinian movement, an assertion that the government rebukes.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
In response to such moves across science agencies, hundreds of EPA, NASA, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation staffers have signed on to public letters of dissent, rare rebukes from traditionally reticent federal employees.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
House Republicans are poised to deliver two rare rebukes of Trump on Thursday.
—Verb
The clash carries potential legal consequences, ongoing FBI and Pentagon investigations, bipartisan rebukes and raises critical questions about civilian control of the military, free speech and the limits of presidential authority.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebukes
Noun
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Celebrating a murder is disgraceful, and reprimands and firings in the workplace can be appropriate consequences for it, but criticism of anyone’s political views should always be fair game.—
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Most job losses start at the district level, where teachers can face discipline that ranges from reprimands to outright termination.—
Verb
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Consequently, the conference is imposing a $5,000 fine and admonishes all institutions to use the ‘out’ designation only if there are no circumstances under which a student-athlete could participate in a game.—
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The report admonishes the Alameda County foster care system for ongoing structural deficiencies, including understaffing and poor record-keeping, while also noting that the agency’s plan to address service gaps may still not be enough to bring it up to standard.—
Verb
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Governance scolds are appalled by the number, as is the pope.—
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Woke scolds and anti-woke dolts alike objected to the image of Carpenter kneeling in front of a man who appears to be using her hair as a leash.—
Noun
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Few condemnations of such a public threat emerged, and despite an American veto on an assassination, Israel continued to ratchet up its aims to not just kill one national leader, but an entire government.—
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The strikes prompted condemnations from Maduro supporters including Russia’s foreign ministry and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who called for a United Nations Security Council meeting, while Trump allies including Argentina President Javier Milei celebrated the news.—
Verb
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Opposition criticizes the deal Skerrit provided few details on how his island, still facing a housing shortage after Category 5 Hurricane Maria devastated the island in September 2017, plans to accommodate the refugees.—
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Animal rights is not the only point on which Sliwa criticizes the president.—
Verb
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The same government that lectures Beijing about state capitalism and nonmarket behaviors now practices it at home.—
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But Andres Bernal, a political analyst who lectures at the City University of New York, thinks many young voters look at Cuomo's history of controversy and are reminded of the Democratic Party establishment that has left them disillusioned.—
Verb
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By contrast, Eugenia condemns herself to a future of festering tension and fury.—
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The government condemns the reprehensible attack on innocent students and the killing of school officials who were carrying out their noble duty.—
Noun
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Aside from the financial cost to the city, Blain’s behavior prompted several council actions, including two censures.—
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Some rank-and-file lawmakers also agree that censures are losing their punch.—
Cite this Entry
“Rebukes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebukes. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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