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castigate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of castigate

1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

  • castigated him for his constant tardiness
Synonyms of castigate

baste, bawl out, berate, call down, 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, scold, score, tongue-lash, upbraid
Words Related to castigate

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, scorn
Phrases Synonymous with castigate

lay into, read the riot act (to), take to task
Near Antonyms of castigate

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 of castigate

abuse, assail, attack, bash, belabor, blast, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate
Words Related to castigate

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)
Phrases Synonymous with castigate

beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into
Near Antonyms of castigate

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 of castigate

chasten, chastise, correct, discipline, penalize, punish
Words Related to castigate

assess, charge, dock, fine, impose, levy, mulct

convict, sentence

condemn, damn, denounce

criticize, keelhaul, rebuke, reprimand, reprove

wreak
Near Antonyms of castigate

forfeit

get off, ransom, release

commute, reprieve

absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate
Antonyms of castigate

excuse, pardon, spare

Synonym Discussion of castigate

punish, chastise, castigate, chasten, discipline, correct mean to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing. punish implies subjecting to a penalty for wrongdoing.
    • punished for stealing
chastise may apply to either the infliction of corporal punishment or to verbal censure or denunciation.
    • chastised his son for neglecting his studies
castigate usually implies a severe, typically public censure.
    • an editorial castigating the entire city council
chasten suggests any affliction or trial that leaves one humbled or subdued.
    • chastened by a landslide election defeat
discipline implies a punishing or chastening in order to bring under control.
    • parents must discipline their children
correct implies punishing aimed at reforming an offender.
    • the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer

Learn More about castigate

  1. See words that rhyme with castigate Dictionary: Definition of castigate Spanish Central: Translation of castigate Nglish: Translation of castigate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of castigate for Arabic speakers

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