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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. v. To criticize or reprove sharply; reprimand. See Synonyms at admonish.
  2. v. To check or repress.
  3. n. A sharp reproof.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. To reprove directly and pointedly; utter sharp disapproval of; reprimand; chide.
  2. To treat or affect reprehendingly; check or restrain by reprimand or condemnation.
  3. To buffet; beat; bruise.
  4. Synonyms Reprove, Reprimand, etc. See censure.
  5. n. A direct reprimand; reproof for fault or wrong; reprehension; chiding.
  6. n. A manifestation of condemnation; a reprehending judgment or infliction; reprobation in act or effect.
  7. n. A check administered; a counter-blow.
  8. n. Behavior deserving rebuke; rudeness.
  9. n. Synonyms Monition, Reprehension, etc. See admonition.

Wiktionary

  1. n. A harsh criticism.
  2. v. To criticise harshly; to reprove.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. v. To check, silence, or put down, with reproof; to restrain by expression of disapprobation; to reprehend sharply and summarily; to chide; to reprove; to admonish.
  2. n. A direct and pointed reproof; a reprimand; also, chastisement; punishment.
  3. n. Check; rebuff.

WordNet 3.0

  1. v. censure severely or angrily
  2. n. an act or expression of criticism and censure

Etymologies

  1. Middle English rebuken, from Old North French rebuker : re-, back (from Latin; see re-) + *buker, to strike, chop wood (variant of Old French buschier, from busche, firewood, of Germanic origin).

Examples

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‘rebuke’ has been looked up 2581 times, loved by 3 people, added to 32 lists, commented on 1 time, and has a Scrabble score of 12.