chide

verb

ˈchīd How to pronounce chide (audio)
Definition of chidenext
as in to admonish
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault my wife chided me for forgetting to offer our guests some refreshments

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb chide contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of chide are admonish, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

When might admonish be a better fit than chide?

Although the words admonish and chide have much in common, admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When can rebuke be used instead of chide?

While the synonyms rebuke and chide are close in meaning, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

In what contexts can reprimand take the place of chide?

While in some cases nearly identical to chide, reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

When could reprove be used to replace chide?

The meanings of reprove and chide largely overlap; however, reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

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 chide Four days later, the very same judge chided a Justice Department lawyer for avoiding answering questions about an order by Mr. Trump that sought, among other things, to keep transgender soldiers out of the military. — Alan Feuer, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025 While Democrats have chided some steps as unlawful, the MAGA majority on Capitol Hill keeps blowing wind in Trump's sails. — Avery Lotz, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025 Both Jaworski and Ervin chided aldermanic opponents for refusing to hike property taxes and implied that was behind the no-payments arrangement over the rest of Johnson’s term. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025 Trump has long chided a number of European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, for failing to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defense, a target set more than a decade ago. — Anna Cooban, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chide
  1. admonish
  2. scold
  3. reprimand
  4. criticize
  5. blame
Verb
  • The judge also admonished state officials for refusing to make the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol publicly available.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • At the White House on Friday, Vance also admonished Zelenskyy for not expressing gratitude to the United States.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of admonish
Verb
  • Michelle Obama playfully scolded her husband, Barack Obama, on her new podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • According to Smith, James, who approached him in the third quarter during a timeout, scolded him for his commentary regarding his son and teammate, Bronny James.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of scold
Verb
  • Police had stern words for one teenager caught surfing and four others were also reprimanded for putting themselves and others in danger.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Trump and Vance reprimanded Zelensky, accusing him of lacking gratitude for U.S. aid.
    — Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of reprimand
Verb
  • Musk has repeatedly criticized Social Security, one of the government's most popular programs, and DOGE staffers have been working inside the agency.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Hutchins’ mother, Olga Solovey, has criticized Baldwin’s response.
    — Rachel Brodsky, TIME, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • Recently, however, doctors have started reporting more cases of iodine-deficient hypothyroidism—and our salt preferences may be at least partially to blame.
    — Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The Democratic establishment’s focus on blaming Trump for those price spikes represents a stark break from its activists, who have launched a protest movement arguing that Trump is a budding dictator with no regard for the Constitution.
    — Steve Peoples, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of blame

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Cite this Entry

“Chide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chide. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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