as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
the loss of his father's trust was the harshest castigation that the boy could have possibly received for having told the lie
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Recent Examples of castigation
The standoff centered on the now-former assistant attorney general’s public and internal castigation of pediatric gender medicine.
—
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 31 Jan. 2026
His reverence for hip-hop led to a poignant self-reflection on whether his new approach would be the subject of castigation among the hip-hop faithful.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Apart from its castigation of non-fossil energy, the strategy document in some ways departs from the Biden administration more in style than substance.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Links with nonprofit group The recent castigations from progressive Democrats were driven in part by the Opportunity Caucus’s ties to One Main Street.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2025
Like legions of dreamers before him, McGuirk started on film and TV sets as a PA, an often thankless job where random castigations from members of the cast or crew can be par for the course.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 31 Jan. 2026
His reverence for hip-hop led to a poignant self-reflection on whether his new approach would be the subject of castigation among the hip-hop faithful.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Apart from its castigation of non-fossil energy, the strategy document in some ways departs from the Biden administration more in style than substance.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Links with nonprofit group The recent castigations from progressive Democrats were driven in part by the Opportunity Caucus’s ties to One Main Street.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2025
Like legions of dreamers before him, McGuirk started on film and TV sets as a PA, an often thankless job where random castigations from members of the cast or crew can be par for the course.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigation
Noun
-
Santa Clara, California — Mike Vrabel made his nnname in the NFL as a crunching outside linebacker, delivering punishment to opposing offenses and blowing up their plays on his way to winning multiple Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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He was sentenced to an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction intact but sparing him any punishment.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
So up and over went Adebayo, and straight down upon Ware came Adebayo’s dunking wrath.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, his minions, so afraid of earning his wrath, have remained quiet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The child may use the money without penalty to help pay for college or buy a first home.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
That first penalty was decisive and controversial.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Castigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigation. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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