Standard Lemma guide

objurgate

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɒbd͡ʒəɡeɪt/
  • General-American: /ˈɑbd͡ʒəɹɡeɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To rebuke or scold strongly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To remonstrate, complain, to rail against.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

censure severely

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She chastised him for his insensitive remarks

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chastise, castigate, chasten, correct

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: call on the carpet, take to task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, scold, chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out, chew up, have words, lambaste, lambast

Narrower terms: flame

4

verb

Meaning 4

express strong disapproval of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We condemn the racism in South Africa
  • These ideas were reprobated

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: condemn, reprobate, decry, excoriate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: denounce

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin obiūrgātus, perfect passive participle of obiūrgō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ob- (“to, against”) + iūrgō (“to dispute, chide”), from Proto-Indo-European *h2éǵeti.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: мъмря (mǎmrja) — To rebuke or scold strongly
  • Bulgarian: карам се (karam se) — To rebuke or scold strongly
  • Finnish: tuomita — To rebuke or scold strongly
  • Italian: obiurgare — To rebuke or scold strongly
  • Russian: брани́ть (branítʹ) — To rebuke or scold strongly