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, 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, upbraidWords 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, scornNear 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, bash, belabor, blast, attack, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperateWords 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)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 punish, chasten, chastise, correct, discipline, penalizeWords Related to castigate assess, charge, dock, fine, impose, levy, mulct; convict, sentence; condemn, damn, denounce; criticize, keelhaul, rebuke, reprimand, reprove; wreakNear Antonyms of castigate forfeit; get off, ransom, release; commute, reprieve; absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicateAntonyms of castigate excuse, pardon, spare