castigate

[ kas-ti-geyt ]

verb (used with object)

, cas·ti·gat·ed, cas·ti·gat·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈcastiˌgator, noun
• ˌcastiˈgation, noun
• ˌcastiˈgatory, adjective

Other Words From

• cas·ti·ga·tion [kas-ti-, gey, -sh, uh, n] noun
• cas·ti·ga·tive cas·ti·ga·to·ry [kas, -ti-g, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
• cas·ti·ga·tor noun
• non·cas·ti·gat·ing adjective
• self-cas·ti·gat·ing adjective
• un·cas·ti·gat·ed adjective
• un·cas·ti·ga·tive 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

Imagine how much you would have to hate life to castigate someone for laughing.

From Salon

Fresh back from a weeklong recess, Representative John W. Rose, Republican of Tennessee, was fired up and among the first to speak on the House floor on Monday, when he used his five minutes of floor time to castigate the criminal conviction of former President Donald J. Trump.

From New York Times

Wednesday’s hearing was the latest in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce’s effort to scrutinize antisemitism on campuses and, along the way, castigate academic leaders.

From New York Times

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Wednesday that protests at U.S. universities against Israel’s war in Gaza were “horrific” and should be stopped, using his first public comments on the subject to castigate the student demonstrators and portray them as antisemitic.

From New York Times

The House recently formed a special committee to investigate, and for the most part castigate, the Chinese Communist Party’s myriad misdeeds.

From Slate

Related Words

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