CHASTEN Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'chasten' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of chasten are castigate , chastise , correct , discipline , and punish . While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued. // chastened by a landslide election defeat

Q: When would 'castigate' be a good substitute for 'chasten'?

The synonyms castigate and chasten are sometimes interchangeable, but castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure. // an editorial castigating the entire city council

Q: When is 'chastise' a more appropriate choice than 'chasten'?

The meanings of chastise and chasten largely overlap; however, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation. // chastised his son for neglecting his studies

Q: When could 'correct' be used to replace 'chasten'?

The words correct and chasten can be used in similar contexts, but correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender. // the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Q: When might 'discipline' be a better fit than 'chasten'?

The words discipline and chasten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control. // parents must discipline their children

Q: In what contexts can 'punish' take the place of 'chasten'?

Although the words punish and chasten have much in common, punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing. // punished for stealing

chasten

verb

ˈchā-sᵊn

Definition of chasten

as in to punish

to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime chastened the child with five minutes of sitting in the corner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to humiliate

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word chasten distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of chasten are castigate, chastise, correct, discipline, and punish. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

When would castigate be a good substitute for chasten?

The synonyms castigate and chasten are sometimes interchangeable, but castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When is chastise a more appropriate choice than chasten?

The meanings of chastise and chasten largely overlap; however, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

When could correct be used to replace chasten?

The words correct and chasten can be used in similar contexts, but correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

When might discipline be a better fit than chasten?

The words discipline and chasten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

In what contexts can punish take the place of chasten?

Although the words punish and chasten have much in common, punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

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 chasten Another reason this defeat felt so chastening for United was that eight of Hull’s starting line-up had come up from the Championship, a year on from surviving relegation on goal difference. — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 The discipline and economy of Rosenwald’s philanthropy also provide a chastening contrast to our current hidebound efforts to help people. — Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026 The loss chastens him just enough to take the edge off his insubordinate recklessness. — ArsTechnica, 21 May 2026 Perhaps my sisters would say that my sojourn in Kansas and Missouri, and then all the way to Massachusetts to visit my dead husband’s family, chastened me. — Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chasten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chasten

Verb

At the root of the crisis is inadequate laws to punish offenders and a poor judicial system, activists say.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Yeah, this is my PhD work, focused on the ways in which soybeans, so legumes, are able to discriminate and actually punish.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of punish

Verb

One of its proof points was supposed to be Maine, where Graham Platner humiliated the party establishment, then himself.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
This caution is surprising in a writer who has elsewhere been fearless about identity and America, attentive to the country’s institutional capacity to humiliate, compromise, and implicate the people who claim it.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

Baker periodically deployed Darman to discredit and even destroy Baker’s rivals for Presidential attention in the Administration.

— Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Gates says Washburn’s petition is a first volley in an attempt to discredit and then defund the Wildlife Council.

— Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

Reese said the exercise left her upset with Smesko and worried about embarrassing herself in front of the team.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Over two games in Tampa, the Rays had embarrassed the Yankees – nearly no hitting them in Game 1 and putting the ball in play and watching the errors ensue in Game 2.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrass

Browse Nearby Words

chastely

chasten

chastened

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Chasten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chasten. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of chasten

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