castigate

1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings castigated him for his constant tardiness Synonyms baste, bawl out, berate, call down, scold, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, score, tongue-lash, upbraidRelated Words admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate; belittle, disparage, mock, put down; ridicule, scoff, scornNear Antonyms approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; extol (also extoll), laud, praise

2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly a newspaper editorial castigating the city council for approving the project in the first place Synonyms abuse, assail, bash, belabor, blast, attack, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperateRelated Words berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip; blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane; affront, insult, slur; asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down; libel, slander, traduce, vilify; chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, reproof; fulminate, lash (out)Near Antonyms acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

3 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 punish, chasten, chastise, correct, discipline, penalizeRelated Words assess, charge, dock, fine, impose, levy, mulct; convict, sentence; condemn, damn, denounce; criticize, keelhaul, rebuke, reprimand, reprove; wreakNear Antonyms forfeit; get off, ransom, release; commute, reprieve; absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicateAntonyms excuse, pardon, spare