chide

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb chide contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of chide are admonish, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

When might admonish be a better fit than chide?

Although the words admonish and chide have much in common, admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When can rebuke be used instead of chide?

While the synonyms rebuke and chide are close in meaning, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

In what contexts can reprimand take the place of chide?

While in some cases nearly identical to chide, reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

When could reprove be used to replace chide?

The meanings of reprove and chide largely overlap; however, reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chide In Saturday’s cold open, James Austin Johnson’s Trump and Bowen Yang’s JD Vance battled with Mikey Day’s Zelenskyy, chiding him for not being grateful for U.S. aid. Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 1 Mar. 2025 Here's a look at Wednesday's news: Chief Justice John Roberts chided Trump. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025 Despite the preemptive tardiness chiding, the runway show began at 11.25. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025 Conservative pundits, perhaps unsurprisingly, criticized her message (and its emotional delivery); other commenters chided her for the seeming theatricality of filming her distress. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chide
Verb
  • For the past several years, clips from the show have circulated on TikTok and X—with certain viewers admonishing Banks for some of her views about the modeling industry.
    Essence, Essence, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The judge also admonished state officials for refusing to make the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol publicly available.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Back in the fortress, the Man of Steel scolds Krypto for wrecking the joint while he was gone.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
  • After the kid was saved, Beltran scolded the resident, reminding her not to bring her personal life into the ER — or her attending’s.
    Charlie Mason, TVLine, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Logical consistency would require these legislators to reprimand PURA’s rigid approach and call for more regulatory flexibility so utilities can invest proactively in essential cybersecurity measures.
    Brian Harrell, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025
  • As John Cena and The Rock's Third Man WWE Could Steal Away Top AEW Star: Report Strickland recounted a meeting with Vince McMahon, where the group was reprimanded for a member's aggressive phone call to a WWE office employee regarding B-Fab's flight details.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • One creative and former National Design Award winner, who has a work visa to be in the U.S., criticized the Trump administration, but declined to comment, due to his residency.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • On Wednesday, Trump announced sweeping tariffs that have been mostly criticized by agricultural and food groups for their potential to shrink markets for farmers and raise consumer prices.
    Tom Polansek and Leah Douglas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Last month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Trump's tariffs were partly to blame for price increases that had taken place in February.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • They are blamed for a mysterious illness that’s starting to spread – said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chide. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on chide

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!