Word
rebuke
Phoneticsre·buke, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹibˈjuk/
UK/ɹɪbjˈuːk/
Definitions
01a harsh criticism
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a serious and strong statement that tells someone their behavior was wrong.
n. a formal expression of sharp disapproval or criticism, typically delivered by an authority figure.
“The manager's public rebuke left the employee feeling embarrassed and discouraged.”
“The diplomat’s comments were seen as a sharp rebuke to the government’s recent policy changes regarding international trade.”
Usage
Often follows the verbs 'deliver', 'issue', or 'receive'.
Antonyms
02to criticize harshly
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to tell someone in a very serious way that you do not like what they did.
v. to express sharp, stern disapproval of someone's actions; to reprimand formally.
“The teacher rebuked the students for their rude behavior during the assembly.”
“The board of directors rebuked the CEO for failing to disclose the company's financial losses to the shareholders.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and requires a direct object, often followed by 'for' and a gerund or noun phrase.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“His comments are a rare rebuke and follow a days-long siege of a Palestinian-American family’s home by Israeli settlers in the village of Qusra.” “Lawyer Gavin Tighe of Gardiner, Roberts LLP says, “It is a very firm rebuke by the court, but the important part is there always are different views of legal questions.” Etymology
From Middle English rebuken, from Anglo-Norman rebuker (“to beat back, repel”), from re- + Old French buker, buchier, buschier (“to strike, hack down, chop”), from busche (“wood”), from Vulgar Latin busca (“wood, grove”), from Frankish busk (“grove”), from Proto-Germanic buskaz (“bush”); equivalent to re- + bush.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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