/ rɪˈbjuːk; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] [ often passive ] rebuke sb (for sth / for doing sth) ( formal ) to speak severely to sb because they have done sth wrong
SYN reprimand :
The company was publicly rebuked for having neglected safety procedures.
► re·buke noun [ C , U ]:
He was silenced by her stinging rebuke.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally in the sense force back, repress ): from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French rebuker , from re- back, down + bukier to beat (originally cut down wood, from Old French busche log).