chasten
Americanverb
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to bring to a state of submission; subdue; tame
-
to discipline or correct by punishment
-
to moderate; restrain; temper
Usage
What does chasten mean? To chasten is to discipline, punish, or severely criticize, especially with the intention of improving someone’s behavior.Chasten has many shades of meaning that are all somewhat similar. It can mean to tame or subdue, or to moderate or restrain someone’s behavior. In all cases, it typically involves some form of discipline or negative consequences for the person being chastened.Chasten is a relatively formal word, and so are its close synonyms (like chastise, castigate, and reprimand), but it’s probably used less commonly than they are.It’s often associated with Christian or other religious language due to its use in some translations of the Bible.Example: My grandfather grew up in a boarding school, where he was chastened for even the most minor infractions.
Other Word Forms
- chastener noun
- chasteningly adverb
- chastenment noun
- unchastened adjective
Etymology
Origin of chasten
1520–30; chaste + -en 1; replacing chaste (v.), Middle English chastien < Old French chastier < Latin castigāre; castigate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The day of the surprise announcement, a chastened Disney said, “we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere.”
From Los Angeles Times
And we pundits, chastened by having been burned, are reluctant to get too far out over our skis.
From Los Angeles Times
Wales' chastening opening defeat by England was followed by three more losses, but with markedly improved performances and now with the win over Italy, there is hope Steve Tandy's side have turned a corner.
From BBC
In theory, a similar arrangement is possible with a decimated, chastened regime in Tehran.
From Los Angeles Times
While hopes of Champions League progress appear in tatters following their latest chastening defeat, it is Tottenham's Premier League situation which remains most pressing.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
