1
as in scolded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
castigated him for his constant tardiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacked
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 punished
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 castigated
In a sizzling dissent for the court's three liberals, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson castigated the majority for diminishing not just individual religious rights, but the power of Congress to legislate.
—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
23 June 2026
Beatty's legal team on Friday castigated the Kennedy Center for leaving the tarp up.
—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
Opponents Venezuela were booed and castigated, not least during a penalty shootout to decide the winners after a 0-0 friendly draw.
—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Labor advocacy groups also castigated the governor’s decision Friday afternoon.
—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
His memorable scene from the pic saw Jerjerrof being castigated by Darth Vader for the slow construction of the second Death Star.
—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Just days before the child’s death, Supervisor Arenas had castigated agency officials for concealing a November status report from the state that listed unresolved concerns.
—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Trump castigated the court for not spelling out what happens to the tens of billions of dollars the government has already collected.
—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Also, lawmakers repeatedly castigated the insurance executives for trying to pad their profits by denying or delaying approval of the care doctors say their patients need.
—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
23 June 2026
Beatty's legal team on Friday castigated the Kennedy Center for leaving the tarp up.
—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
Opponents Venezuela were booed and castigated, not least during a penalty shootout to decide the winners after a 0-0 friendly draw.
—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Labor advocacy groups also castigated the governor’s decision Friday afternoon.
—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
His memorable scene from the pic saw Jerjerrof being castigated by Darth Vader for the slow construction of the second Death Star.
—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Just days before the child’s death, Supervisor Arenas had castigated agency officials for concealing a November status report from the state that listed unresolved concerns.
—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Trump castigated the court for not spelling out what happens to the tens of billions of dollars the government has already collected.
—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Also, lawmakers repeatedly castigated the insurance executives for trying to pad their profits by denying or delaying approval of the care doctors say their patients need.
—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigated
Verb
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Davis remembered once being scolded as a teenager by her mother after being caught speaking poorly of a classmate.
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Well versed in what the lunar surface truly offers, Britt scolded a number of arty accounts of lunar territory promulgated by both NASA and commercial space ventures.
Verb
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Police said former professional soccer player Badea and another man attacked Zeraati before fleeing in a getaway car driven by Stana and then flying out of the country from Heathrow Airport.
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The three men who attacked our CBS News Chicago crew near Adler Planetarium before pointing a gun at people in Brighton Park on Monday afternoon have been charged.
Verb
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Even though the president nominates agency leaders, those commissioners are confirmed by the Senate and must not be unfairly punished for exercising independent judgment, Potter said.
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Months later, Brian Cox told The Hollywood Reporter in December 2024 that Spacey had been punished enough.
Verb
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Once, in anthropology class, my professor lectured on an insular island tribe that cackled whenever someone got hurt.
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Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Member of the UK Association of Jungian Analysts, and has taught and lectured at many academic institutions, Jungian organisations, retreat centres and cultural festivals around the world.
Verb
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In a scathing Instagram post this morning, LuPone, who has long been devoted to her equally enamored gay fandom, slammed Turkey’s latest homophobic move.
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Investigators said the Tesla slammed through a brick home at a high rate of speed, fatally striking Avila.
Verb
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Wimbledon fashion is also something that can get patrons in trouble, with Andy Samberg saying he was reprimanded for wearing black jeans in the Royal Box.
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Anne White was famously reprimanded for wearing a skin-tight unitard during her first-round match in June 1985.
Verb
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The program posed a massive political problem for Mamdani, who’s been criticized by both his allies and opponents for his stance.
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While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
Verb
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In Guadalajara, South Korea’s opening day win against Czech Republic was headlined by empty seats, which FIFA blamed on several fans watching the game from the stadium concourses.
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Officials directly blamed the unrest on severe staffing shortages.
Cite this Entry
“Castigated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigated. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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