castigates

verb

present tense third-person singular of castigate
1
as in scolds
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings castigated him for his constant tardiness

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2
as in attacks
to criticize harshly and usually publicly a newspaper editorial castigating the city council for approving the project in the first place

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in punishes
to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime a judge who believes in castigating criminals to the full extent of the law

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigates
  1. scolds
  2. attacks
  3. punishes
  4. criticizes
  5. slams
  6. lectures
  7. excoriates
  8. reprimands
Verb
  • Some intergenerational sparring ensues, as Kevin scolds Arthur for his more outré boomer comments, and Arthur in turn sneers at his grandson’s millennial lameness.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of scolds
Verb
  • Greenidge, an award-winning public historian, refuted all charges, and told the New York Times that attacks on her scholarship were racially motivated.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
  • However, when Duffy attacks Marcus during a confrontation with Slough House agents, Louisa hits the chief of the Dogs in the head, leaving him in a coma.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of attacks
Verb
  • Alex Williamson is a mom in the district who thinks that the new policy is too broad and punishes the kids who ride their e-bikes safely.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Sehnaoui's meeting with the Israeli leader occurred as some in Lebanon have called for abolishing a 1955 law that bans dealing with Israel or having contacts with Israelis and punishes offenders with up to 10 years in jail.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of punishes
Verb
  • Beatty’s filing also criticizes the tarps that have covered the venue’s front portico for more than two months.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Lebanese leader criticizes Israel Saturday’s strikes are the deadliest since the truce went into effect two months ago.
    — Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of criticizes
Verb
  • Robin Williams' daughter slams AI videos of her father, urges fans to 'stop doing this'Need a news break?
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • When Alice starts to have a panic attack, Catherine slams her syringe into her neck.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of slams
Verb
  • Those experiences deepen understanding in ways that lectures and memorization alone rarely can.
    — Lisa Schade, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Khimasia is an independent curator who currently lectures at Rutgers University.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 27 July 2026
Definition of lectures
Verb
  • Smullen’s campaign launched an anti-Constantino website that excoriates him for, among many other things, his past registration as a Democrat.
    — Michael Hill, Fortune, 12 June 2026
  • Woodcutters sets forth the musings of a narrator sitting in an armchair at a dinner party who excoriates the literary awards establishments of his native land (and by extension all lands that are host to a robust bourgeoisie).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of excoriates
Verb
  • The emperor reprimands her for being late for the rainmaking ritual.
    — Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026
  • His supervisor appears as a ticket conductor and reprimands him for doing nothing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Definition of reprimands
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Castigates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigates. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of castigates for Spanish Speakers

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