Verb: rebuke ri'byook
- Censure severely or angrily
"The deputy rebuked the Prime Minister";
- call on the carpet [US, informal], take to task, rag [informal], trounce, lecture, reprimand, jaw [informal], dress down [informal], call down [informal], scold, chide, berate, bawl out [informal], chew out [N. Amer, informal], chew up [N. Amer, informal], have words, lambaste, lambast, ream [N. Amer, informal], wig [Brit, informal], carpet [Brit, informal]
- An act or expression of criticism and censure
"he had to take the rebuke with a smile on his face";
- reproof, reproval, reprehension, reprimand
Derived forms: rebuked, rebukes, rebuking
Type of: criticise [Brit], criticism, criticize, damn [informal], knock [informal], pick apart, unfavorable judgment [US], unfavourable judgment [Brit, Cdn]
Encyclopedia: Rebuke