1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
castigated him for his constant tardiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a newspaper editorial castigating the city council for approving the project in the first place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to punish
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime
a judge who believes in castigating criminals to the full extent of the law
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of castigate
President Trump has at various moments and in social-media posts castigated NBC News, CNN, MSNBC and others.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
This writer subsequently published an article castigating said fans for not doing their jobs.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
At one point during Ferguson’s testimony, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Eleanor Hunter, who is presiding over the trial because Orange County judges recused themselves, castigated Ferguson for interrupting people and not answering questions directly.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2025
Trump’s address comes four days after Trump castigated her husband in the Oval Office.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for castigate
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
This writer subsequently published an article castigating said fans for not doing their jobs.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
At one point during Ferguson’s testimony, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Eleanor Hunter, who is presiding over the trial because Orange County judges recused themselves, castigated Ferguson for interrupting people and not answering questions directly.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2025
Trump’s address comes four days after Trump castigated her husband in the Oval Office.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for castigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigate
Verb
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Back in the fortress, the Man of Steel scolds Krypto for wrecking the joint while he was gone.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
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After the kid was saved, Beltran scolded the resident, reminding her not to bring her personal life into the ER — or her attending’s.—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Aged 30, Makelele had been converted from an attacking midfielder to a deep-lying, anchoring midfielder that would protect his back line and hoover up any defensive actions that came anywhere near his orbit.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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Five dogs escaped and brutally attacked a 43-year-old man in Arizona, leading to his death days later, deputies said.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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By building a social and political movement that gave him coercive power over the GOP, he’s been able to punish heretics and elevate loyalists committed to advancing his agenda and interests.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
27 Mar. 2025
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Nobody who voted for Trump last year did so to punish or annex Canada — or indeed Greenland, Panama or any other place that Trump is picking on.—
Andreas Kluth,
The Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Mickey Rourke was reprimanded on Celebrity Big Brother UK after using a homophobic slur toward fellow housemate JoJo Siwa.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
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The mom comes back and then reprimanded me for not supporting her baby’s head.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In a video posted to X, Brand thanked his fans for messages of support, then criticized the British government and legal system before addressing the charges directly.—
Emily Trainham,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Critics of executive overreach have long criticized the Office of Legal Counsel as too permissive.—
Charlie Savage,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Quilting group hosts lecture, workshop El Camino Quilt Guild meets at 9:30 a.m. April 8 at El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
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But the club’s members didn’t lecture or advocate until 20 years after its 1876 founding.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Last month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Trump's tariffs were partly to blame for price increases that had taken place in February.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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They are blamed for a mysterious illness that’s starting to spread – said to be passed through a single gaze, when one man falls in love with another.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Paxton and Cornyn have traded barbs back and forth for years, with the attorney general slamming Cornyn’s votes in favor of additional U.S. aid to Ukraine and bipartisan legislation on gun safety following the 2022 Uvalde school shooting.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
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Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells left the court on a stretcher last night after slamming his head on the court during a dunk attempt.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Castigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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