Rebuke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rebuked; p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuking.]
Etymology: [OF. rebouquier to dull, blunt, F. reboucher; perhaps fr. pref. re- re- + bouche mouth, OF. also bouque, L. bucca cheek; if so, the original sense was, to stop the mouth of; hence, to stop, obstruct.]
To check, silence, or put down, with reproof; to restrain by expression of disapprobation; to reprehend sharply and summarily; to chide; to reprove; to admonish. The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered, Nor to rebuke the rich offender feared. Dryden.
Syn. -- To reprove; chide; check; chasten; restrain; silence. See Reprove.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Rebuke, n.
1. A direct and pointed reproof; a reprimand; also, chastisement; punishment. For thy sake I have suffered rebuke. Jer. xv. 15. Why bear you these rebukes and answer not Shak.
2. Check; rebuff. [Obs.] L'Estrange. To be without rebuke, to live without giving cause of reproof or censure; to be blameless.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for rebuke; he lists it under reproof, reprove.
Where he writes about it:
Blame, censure, and disapproval may either be felt or uttered; comment, criticism, rebuke, reflection, reprehension, and reproof are always expressed. — from reproof
Rebuke, literally a stopping of the mouth, is administered to a forward or hasty person; reproof is administered to one intentionally or deliberately wrong; both words imply authority in the reprover, and direct expression of disapproval to the face of the person rebuked or reproved. — from reproof
Rebuke may be given at the outset, or in the midst of an action; animadversion, reflection, reprehension, reproof, always follow the act; admonition is anticipatory, and meant to be preventive. — from reproof
Check is allied to rebuke, and given before or during action; chiding is nearer to reproof, but with more of personal bitterness and less of authority. — from reproof
To censure is to pronounce an adverse judgment that may or may not be expressed to the person censured; to reprove is to censure authoritatively, openly, and directly to the face of the person reproved; to rebuke is to reprove with sharpness, and often with abruptness, usually in the midst of some action or course of action deemed censurable; to reprimand is to reprove officially; to blame is a familiar word signifying to pass censure upon, make answerable, as for a fault; blame and censure apply either to persons or acts; reprove and rebuke are applied chiefly, and reprimand exclusively to persons. — from reprove
Censure, rebuke, and reprove apply to wrong that has been done; warn and admonish refer to anticipated error or fault. — from reprove