castigates; castigated; castigating
formal
: to criticize (someone) harshly
The author castigated the prime minister as an ineffective leader.
—often + forThe judge castigated the lawyers for their lack of preparation.
He was castigated in the media for making millions of dollars while the company went bankrupt.
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“Castigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/castigate. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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