[syn: 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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Reproof \Re*proof"\ (r?-pr??f"), n. [OE. reproef. See Proof,
Reprove.]
1. Refutation; confutation; contradiction. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
2. An expression of blame or censure; especially, blame
expressed to the face; censure for a fault; chiding;
reproach.
[1913 Webster]
Those best can bear reproof who merit praise.
--Pope.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Admonition; reprehension; chiding; reprimand; rebuke;
censure; blame. See Admonition.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
reproof
n 1: an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to
take the rebuke with a smile on his face" [syn: rebuke,
reproof, reproval, reprehension, reprimand]
v 1: censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child
for entering a stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the
Prime Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for
bringing cold soup" [syn: 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]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
22 Moby Thesaurus words for "reproof":
admonishment, admonition, castigation, chastisement, chiding,
correction, lecture, lesson, objurgation, rap, rating, rebuke,
reprehension, reprimand, reproach, reprobation, reproval, scolding,
sermon, spanking, upbraiding, wig