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

Bush’s team was castigated for injecting race into the emotionally charged issue of crime.

From Los Angeles Times

In recent months, Chinese public figures and companies have also been castigated for being insufficiently patriotic.

From BBC

The same prime minister, characterised as being too cautious by one US president, was then castigated as being too aggressive by his successor.

From BBC

On Saturday, before Nasrallah’s death was confirmed by Hezbollah, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei released a statement castigating Israel for “the massacre of the defenseless people of Lebanon.”

From Los Angeles Times

A party leader not castigating the government from the sidelines but describing what the government - a Labour government - will actually do.

From BBC

Related Words

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