DISCIPLINE Synonyms: 181 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'discipline' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of discipline are castigate , chasten , chastise , correct , and punish . While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control. // parents must discipline their children

Q: When is 'castigate' a more appropriate choice than 'discipline'?

The meanings of castigate and discipline largely overlap; however, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure. // an editorial castigating the entire city council

Q: When would 'chasten' be a good substitute for 'discipline'?

The synonyms chasten and discipline are sometimes interchangeable, but chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued. // chastened by a landslide election defeat

Q: When can 'chastise' be used instead of 'discipline'?

While the synonyms chastise and discipline are close in meaning, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation. // chastised his son for neglecting his studies

Q: When might 'correct' be a better fit than 'discipline'?

While in some cases nearly identical to discipline , correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender. // the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Q: When is it sensible to use 'punish' instead of 'discipline'?

The words punish and discipline can be used in similar contexts, but punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing. // punished for stealing

discipline 1 of 2

noun

ˈdi-sə-plən

Definition of discipline

as in department

a region of activity, knowledge, or influence you must choose a discipline to focus on in college

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in punishment

suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense harsh discipline was imposed to keep order within the ranks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in restraint

the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others she lacks the discipline that's essential for a job in customer relations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

discipline

2 of 2

verb

as in to punish

to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime the pranksters were severely disciplined for their irresponsible stunt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word discipline distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of discipline are castigate, chasten, chastise, correct, and punish. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

When is castigate a more appropriate choice than discipline?

The meanings of castigate and discipline largely overlap; however, castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When would chasten be a good substitute for discipline?

The synonyms chasten and discipline are sometimes interchangeable, but chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

When can chastise be used instead of discipline?

While the synonyms chastise and discipline are close in meaning, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

When might correct be a better fit than discipline?

While in some cases nearly identical to discipline, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

When is it sensible to use punish instead of discipline?

The words punish and discipline can be used in similar contexts, but punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of discipline

Noun

His grandfather was a hard man who taught him discipline, who worked him to the bone. — NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026 The mandatory classes for teenagers include learning about the main types of armaments including machine guns, anti-tank weapons and hand grenades, as well as emergency field medicine and general military discipline. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Verb

The next generation of corporate purpose can be more disciplined. — Scott M. Curran, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 The country’s public servants are disciplined, rules-driven, and professional. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discipline

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discipline

Noun

Additionally, the department has been coordinating with the Nepali government to assist with the rescue effort.

— Isabel Danzis, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
The department did not immediately respond to The Bee’s request for comment.

— Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of department

Noun

Because of this purposeful inaccuracy, she will be reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment.

— Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Hisbah members also face widespread allegations of rights abuses in their enforcement operations, including subjecting offenders to dehumanizing punishments such as public beatings or shaming.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of punishment

Noun

If the answer is yes, then waiting ceases to be a strategy of restraint and begins to look like gradual erosion of power and strength.

— Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
Meghna Gulzar has a very distinctive voice and an ability to approach difficult subjects with both restraint and intensity.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of restraint

Verb

If, as Jimmy Connors has said, tennis is boxing at ninety feet—a lonely battle of wills that punishes the slightest lapse in concentration—Eala’s southpaw forehand drives resemble Pacquiao’s blazing left hooks.

— Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
If the teams refuse to enroll the players who benefit from the TRO, those players could petition Hoffman to clarify that his order also blocks the SEC from punishing schools.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of punish

Noun

Shawn Ryan Tackling a distance like that will need considerably more solar area, but Ryan has ruled out the obvious fix of simply widening his current upright bike and plastering it with panels.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
By dawn, a margin of only a few hundred votes separated the two camps before the gap grew as more ballots were tallied in areas of the country where opposition was greater.

— Kwiyeon Ha, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of area

Noun

After offside penalty on the Hawks on the PAT, the Warriors go for two and failed to convert on a wide receiver reverse.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Fisk and Overton use three surveys to trace how expectations of harsher penalties for failure can dampen women’s leadership ambitions.

— Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of penalty

Noun

Frequently subjected to repression and censorship, some of them were excluded from the Association of Visual Artists and thus denied access to state funding, exhibition opportunities, commissions, and official recognition as professional artists.

— Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
To reassert discipline, the Kremlin not only ramped up its use of selective repression but often drew on anti-spying legislation to do so.

— Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of repression

Noun

Play was suspended on the outside courts, but the roofs could close on Armstrong and Ashe, protecting Bublik and Wolf, and Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone, from the elements.

— Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Now, one element of great balance is there’s not a ton of headliners, stars.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of element

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disciplinary

discipline

disciplined

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“Discipline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discipline. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of discipline

noun

verb

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