as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
a chastening hour spent cleaning floors should discourage them from further pranks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in condemnation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in punishing
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humiliating
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the unexpected loss to a second-rate player really chastened the tournament's top-seeded tennis star
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chastening
Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
That remains to be seen because, after a chastening first window as sporting director, having only arrived on July 4, the onus is on Mitchell to dovetail with Howe and bolster a first-team squad in need of quality and a refresh.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Speaking to me more recently, Reiss recalled a chastening encounter with an old classmate.
—Darryn King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
Los Blancos could have undone some of the damage done by a 0-4 chastening at the hands of bitter rival FC Barcelona with a statement win over Ancelotti's former employers AC Milan in the Champions League.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Channel 4 posted its biggest deficit of all time last year in what was a chastening financial year, with content boss Ian Katz deciding to reject his bonus.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
Sunday’s chastening 5-0 loss at home to Liverpool could have been even worse.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
That remains to be seen because, after a chastening first window as sporting director, having only arrived on July 4, the onus is on Mitchell to dovetail with Howe and bolster a first-team squad in need of quality and a refresh.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Speaking to me more recently, Reiss recalled a chastening encounter with an old classmate.
—Darryn King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
Los Blancos could have undone some of the damage done by a 0-4 chastening at the hands of bitter rival FC Barcelona with a statement win over Ancelotti's former employers AC Milan in the Champions League.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Channel 4 posted its biggest deficit of all time last year in what was a chastening financial year, with content boss Ian Katz deciding to reject his bonus.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chastening
Adjective
-
For example, harm reduction messaging must consider the potential negative impacts of new policies, such as black markets, regressive taxes and the stigma or negative consequences resulting from punitive measures.—
Markus Lindblad,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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Trump also said Green was an embarrassment and called for punitive action against him.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Thailand deported more than 100 of them to China in 2015, drawing condemnation from the international community.—
Michael Sullivan,
NPR,
27 Feb. 2025
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The posts quickly drew condemnation from many users on Truth Social and Instagram, even from people who identified themselves as Republicans.—
Ben Goggin,
NBC News,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But punishing that behavior means bringing the hammer down on Vietnam, hardly a step that would win Washington strategic support in Hanoi, where a new leadership dominated by public security and military officials actually sees eye to eye with China in some areas.—
Evan A. Feigenbaum,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
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In an interview with The Athletic last month, Diggins described the feeling of finishing one of the most punishing endurance tests in all of sports.—
Zack Pierce,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Many of the conspiracy theories have prompted FEMA to create a page on its site discrediting rumors and false information about its response to Hurricane Helene.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
14 Oct. 2024
-
Still, the United States didn’t recognize Haiti as a nation until 1862, during the Civil War, when American leadership was looking for any support in discrediting slavery.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes,
10 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Menendez brothers 'risk assessment' ordered by Newsom ahead of resentencing hearing.—
Fox News Staff,
Fox News,
1 Mar. 2025
-
These participants, ranging from 20 to 27 years old, represented the top talent from their respective countries after a rigorous selection process involving pre-boot camp assessments in each country.—
Tarun Galagali,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The abrupt closure of the Russian market following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent imposition of sweeping sanctions forced most Westerners to flee, often selling their companies for a fraction of their value.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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The imposition of tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada—now postponed for a month—could have a negative impact on the U.S. economy, driving up inflation, experts have said.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Violating an injunction is a criminal misdemeanor in Florida, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine — a penalty that some advocates contend is not stiff enough.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2025
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If convicted, Worthy, 21, could face a sentence of two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chastening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chastening. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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