| Main Entry: | castigate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize severely |
Synonyms: |
baste, bawl out, beat, berate, blister, cane, censure, chasten, chastise, chew out, come down on, correct, criticize, discipline, drag over the coals, dress down, drub, excoriate, flay, flog, jump down one's throat, lambaste, lash, lay out, lean on, penalize, pummel, punish, rail, rate, read the riot act, ream, rebuke, reprimand, scarify, scathe, scold, scorch, scourge, thrash, tongue-lash, upbraid, whip |
Antonyms: |
compliment, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | decree |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | order rule or action |
Synonyms: |
announce, command, compel, constrain, decide, declare, demand, determine, dictate, enact, force, impose, lay down the law, oblige, ordain, prescribe, proclaim, pronounce, put one's foot down, read the riot act, require, rule, set |
| Main Entry: | dictate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | command; give instructions |
Synonyms: |
bid, bulldoze, call the play, call the shots, call the tune, charge, control, decree, direct, enjoin, govern, guide, impose, instruct, lay down, lay down the law, lead, manage, ordain, order, prescribe, pronounce, put foot down, read the riot act, regiment, rule, set, take the reins, walk heavy |
Antonyms: |
ask, implore, request |
| Main Entry: | dispose |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | place, order; deal with |
Synonyms: |
actuate, adapt, adjust, arrange, array, bend, bias, call the tune, condition, determine, distribute, fix, govern, group, incline, induce, influence, lay down the law, lead, locate, make willing, marshal, methodize, motivate, move, organize, predispose, prepare, promote, prompt, put, put one's foot down, put to rights, range, rank, read the riot act, regulate, ride herd on, set, set in order, settle, shepherd, stand, sway, systematize, tailor, tempt |
| Notes: | predispose differs from dispose by implying that the frame of mind is created some time before it becomes obvious |
Antonyms: |
disarrange, disorder, displace, disturb, mismanage |
| Main Entry: | impose |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | set, dictate |
Synonyms: |
appoint, burden, charge, command, compel, constrain, decree, demand, encroach, enforce, enjoin, establish, exact, fix, foist, force, force upon, horn in, inflict, infringe, institute, introduce, intrude, lade, lay, lay down, lay down the law, levy, move in on, oblige, obtrude, ordain, order, place, prescribe, presume, promulgate, put, put foot down, read riot act, require, saddle, take advantage, trespass, visit, wish, wreak, wreck |
| Main Entry: | lambaste |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | punish, beat |
Synonyms: |
assail, attack, berate, blister, bludgeon, castigate, censure, criticize, cudgel, denounce, excoriate, flay, flog, hammer, hit, lash into, pan, pelt, pound, pummel, rake over the coals, read the riot act, rebuke, reprimand, rip into, roast, scathe, scold, scorch, scourge, shellac, slam, slap, slash, smear, smother, strike, thrash, trim, upbraid, wallop, whip |
Antonyms: |
praise, uphold |
| Main Entry: | reprove |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | rebuke |
Synonyms: |
admonish, bawl out, berate, castigate, censure, chew out, chide, condemn, jump down one's throat, lambaste, lay into, lecture, read the riot act, reprimand, reproach, scold, take to task, upbraid |
| Main Entry: | bring to book |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | call to account |
Synonyms: |
call on the carpet, read the riot act, take to task, tongue lash |