chasten

[chey-suhn]

verb (used with object)

1. to inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement; chastise.

   Synonyms: punish, discipline
   Antonyms: indulge

2. to restrain; subdue.

   Age has chastened his violent temper.

   Synonyms: humble

3. to make chaste in style.

   Synonyms: simplify, purify

chasten

/ ˈtʃeɪsən /

verb

1. to bring to a state of submission; subdue; tame

2. to discipline or correct by punishment

3. to moderate; restrain; temper

Other Word Forms

• chastener noun
• chasteningly adverb
• chastenment noun
• unchastened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chasten¹

1520–30; chaste + -en ¹; replacing chaste (v.), Middle English chastien < Old French chastier < Latin castigāre; castigate

Word History and Origins

Origin of chasten¹

C16: from Old French chastier, from Latin castigāre; see _castigate

Example Sentences

The head coach explained that part of the thinking was to match Denmark's physicality, recalling a chastening 2-0 defeat in Copenhagen in the last World Cup qualification campaign.

From BBC

After this chastening defeat, Brook said: "At the end we almost used it as a practice session once we knew the game was dead. Lads were practising their skills."

From BBC

Somewhat chastened by that thought, one went for a walk; the nearby Mount Vernon Trail might be a good place for distraction from doomscrolling in the imagination.

From Salon

However, the chastening defeat by world number nine Rybakina, who hit the Briton off court with a flurry of excoriating winners, was a reminder of how she still needs to improve.

From BBC

Now Tuchel has gone a step further by dropping him completely, piling more misery on a chastening period for the defender, who left Liverpool for the Bernabeu on a free transfer.

From BBC

Related Words

• penalize 

When To Use

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.