What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
chastening
Example
The failure of his business was a chastening experience that taught him valuable lessons. [chastening: adjective]
Example
She received a chastening from her coach after making the same mistake repeatedly. [chastening: noun]
mortifying
Example
It was mortifying to realize she had been talking loudly on her phone in a quiet library. [mortifying: adjective]
Example
He felt mortified when he tripped and fell in front of a large crowd. [mortified: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mortifying is more commonly used than chastening in everyday language. Mortifying is often used to describe embarrassing or humiliating situations, while chastening is less common and tends to be used in more formal or reflective contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between chastening and mortifying?
While chastening is associated with a more formal and reflective tone, mortifying is used in both formal and informal contexts to describe embarrassing or humiliating experiences.
