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Definition of "chastise" [chas•tise]

  • To punish, as by beating. See Synonyms at punish. (verb-transitive)
  • To criticize severely; rebuke. (verb-transitive)
  • Archaic To purify. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "chastise" in a sentence
  • "The word chastise here means to scourge or to whip."
  • "One thing he didn't do, and has never done, was 'chastise' the troops, and as regards morale, I was a GI in Vietnam in 1971, and will happily report that for me and those around me, the knowledge that people in the States were speaking up on our behalf and testifying about the insanity that surrounded us was one of the few bright spots on the morale front."
  • "On the other hand, why is it the governor's duty to "chastise" her church ( "Naughty church!"?) on theological points?"