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Synonym Chooser

How is the word castigate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of castigate are chasten, chastise, correct, discipline, and punish. While all these words mean "to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing," castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.

an editorial castigating the entire city council

When is chasten a more appropriate choice than castigate?

The words chasten and castigate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.

chastened by a landslide election defeat

When is it sensible to use chastise instead of castigate?

While in some cases nearly identical to castigate, chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.

chastised his son for neglecting his studies

In what contexts can correct take the place of castigate?

The meanings of correct and castigate largely overlap; however, correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.

the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Where would discipline be a reasonable alternative to castigate?

Although the words discipline and castigate have much in common, discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.

parents must discipline their children

When might punish be a better fit than castigate?

The synonyms punish and castigate are sometimes interchangeable, but punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.

punished for stealing

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of castigate In recent days, the hits have come from all sides, with her 2022 challenger, billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso, castigating Bass in the media for her absence and handling of the fire. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025 The hearing began later than expected, for which Giuliani castigated the judge in statements on the social platform X and from Goodman, his spokesman. Ella Lee, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025 Some employees have celebrated the moves, while others were shocked and have openly castigated the changes on the company’s internal message boards. Mike Isaac, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 In the aftermath, Sara rejects Isaac’s attempt to offer reassuring words and castigates herself for making a mistake that put Devin in jeopardy. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for castigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigate
Verb
  • That, in the end, is the heart of the spectacle of Noem’s militaristic videos and Leavitt’s scolding and lies.
    Constance Grady, Vox, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Today's top stories President Trump scolded Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday after Russia launched a deadly strike on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to Haynes, Lillard is motivated to attack his rehab and return to form.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The account commonly attacks news publications and posts comments criticizing reporting about Hegseth and the Defense Department.
    Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Detroit doesn’t just punish defensive miscues in the half court.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
  • There's an implicit fear of failure and an ingrained cultural mindset that punishes not rewards those who dare to think differently.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • And when no one was fired or even reprimanded for the FUBAR, the accountability Hegseth promised had seemingly gone AWOL.
    S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Rourke was formally reprimanded by the show and ultimately booted from the house.
    Mikelle Street, Them., 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • She was criticized by some for her expensive timepiece and for using prisoners as production props.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Carey criticized laissez-faire economics for degrading the British working class.
    Made by History, Time, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Conor Heffernan, who lectures on the history of sports and fitness at Ulster University, in Ireland, said the current vogue for biohacking, and its protein boosterism, reeks of snake oil.
    Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Her quotidian life was lecturing at a college in Aberdeen, close to where she was born, and the travel and mountaineering a teacher’s schedule enables.
    Sadie Stein, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Summary Stop blaming the algorithm for slow LinkedIn growth.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Duffy should listen to the lawyers, but instead the Trump Department of Justice has transferred the handling of the congestion price litigation from New York lawyers to some in D.C., blaming the SDNY for intentionally sabotaging the case in filing the letter where it could be seen by all.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The estate's lawsuit said Clyde Leach’s Tesla Model Y suddenly accelerated, went off the road and slammed into a pillar at an Ohio gas station.
    Mike Scarcella, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • However, prosecutors allege that a drunk and angry Read knowingly slammed her SUV into her boyfriend -- Boston police officer John O'Keefe -- outside of a get-together at another officer's home and left him to die in a blizzard in January 2022.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Castigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigate. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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