castigate

[kas-ti-geyt]

verb (used with object)

castigated, castigating 

1. to criticize or reprimand severely.

   Synonyms: reprove, censure, scold

2. to punish in order to correct.

   Synonyms: chasten, chastise, discipline

castigate

/ ˈkæstɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to rebuke or criticize in a severe manner; chastise

Other Word Forms

• castigation noun
• castigative adjective
• castigatory adjective
• castigator noun
• noncastigating adjective
• self-castigating adjective
• uncastigated adjective
• uncastigative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of castigate¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin castīgātus literally, “driven to be faultless” (past participle of castigāre “to chasten”), equivalent to cast(us) “pure, clean” + -īg-, combining form of agere “to drive, incite” + -ātus past participle suffix; chaste, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of castigate¹

C17: from Latin castīgāre to correct, punish, from castum pure + agere to compel (to be)

Example Sentences

In the all-caps post, Menendez’s daughter castigated the parole board, calling them “money hungry media feeding pieces of trash” after the decision.

From Los Angeles Times

The US castigated these moves, having privately warned of diplomatic consequences if those attending the UN conference made "anti-Israel" declarations.

From BBC

"You will be the same person that will castigate us if we acquiesce to accepting Venezuelan prisoners into Nigeria," he added.

From BBC

This, remember, is the same US president who only days earlier had publicly castigated the Israeli prime minister – with expletives – as the Iran ceasefire deal threatened to unravel before it had begun.

From BBC

Booker castigated the Senate and his own party for failing to stand up to Trump.

From Salon

Related Words

• berate 
• censure 
• chastise 
• criticize 
• excoriate 
• flog 
• lambaste 
• lash 
• penalize 
• pummel 
• punish 
• rebuke 
• reprimand 
• scold 
• upbraid