Do you know the definition of rebuke? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word rebuke, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word rebuke is a verb that means to reprimand or speak severely to someone. The word rebuke is two syllables – re-buke, and the pronunciation of rebuke is rɪbjuːk. This can also be used specifically in the canon law of the Church of England, or English law to refer to a censure on a member of the clergy of the Church of England, which is less severe than a monition and overall the least severe censure. This can be given by a bishop or by an ecclesiastical court. The word rebuke is used throughout the Bible in the Old Testament and the New Testament in Proverbs, Matthew, Isaiah, and more to mean to convict someone for a lack or righteousness. In Hebrew, it is a translation of ga`ar and yakhach as well as ribh.
If you rebuke someone, you express criticism in a was of stern disapproval. You might rebuke someone for shortcomings, give a mild rebuke as an expression of criticism, a stern rebuke to someone, rebuke a waiter for delivering cold soup, give a lengthy rebuke from unfavorable judgement, give sharp rebukes on someone’s flaws, or disciples might rebuke someone for sin. This expression of disapprobation is common.
Many different languages also use words that mean rebuke. You may notice that some of these look and sound similar to the word rebuke. These cognates are formed when words have a similar origin or root. This list of translations of rebuke is provided by Word Sense but you could also find translations in a digital edition of a dictionary.
According to Etymonline, the word rebuke has been used since early c14 Middle English rebuken. This comes from the Anglo-French rebuker, a variant of Old French rebuchier from re and buschier, the French busche and French rebuker/buker, Vulgar Latin buska, Frankish busc, and Proto-Germanic origin, Old Norman, Old North, and West Germanic busk. These are all related to the action to chop wood.
What are synonyms and antonyms of rebuke?
There is a vast collection of many different words that can be used in place of the word rebuke, which are known as synonyms. Synonyms are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are very useful to know if you are looking to expand your vocabulary or if you are trying to avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms for the word rebuke is provided by Power Thesaurus.
There are also numerous different words that are the opposite of the word rebuke, which are called antonyms. Antonyms are also very useful to know if you are trying to expand your vocabulary and knowledge of the English language. This list of antonyms for the word rebuke is also provided by Power Thesaurus.
ballyhoo
big something up
applaud
panegyrize
hail
back
approval
compliment
countenance
appreciate
rave about
advocate
praise to the skies
flattery
big someone up
eulogize
reward
approbation
gratitude
agree with
celebrate
cheer
cry someone up
citation
wax lyrical about
sanction
congratulate
congrats
throw bouquets at
eulogy
commend
praise
acclaim
heap praise on
flatter
pay tribute to
admire
approve
speak highly of
congratulations
endorsement
laud
be in favour of
sing the praises of
commendation
extol
tribute
support
go into raptures about
be pleased with
How can the word rebuke be used in a sentence?
There are many ways that the word rebuke can be used in a sentence in the English language. Using new words in a sentence is a great way to incorporate new lingo into your vocabulary. You can also try making flashcards and quizzes that test your knowledge of the definitions of different English words. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today! Below are several different examples of ways in which the word rebuke can be used in the English language to help get your started with using this word.
Arah rebuked the Prime Minister for doing nothing about the criis.
Neil rebuked Princeton University for mistakenly sending him an invitation to the school.
I rebuked the man for hit and running the stranger’s car.
Overall, the word rebuke means passing unfavorable judgment. This word is a verb.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.