1
as in scolded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
castigated him for his constant tardiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacked
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a newspaper editorial castigating the city council for approving the project in the first place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in punished
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of castigated
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony also castigated the deputies for mishandling the 14 calls Mary made to BSO in the year leading up to her death.
—
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Chris Wright castigated European energy generated from wind farms as too costly.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
The court gave the green light for those sweeping immigration operations to continue in Los Angeles — a decision that was praised by the White House and castigated by immigrant rights advocates.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
Payne also castigated the department for failing to provide any of the documents that lawmakers had requested on June 3.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2025
The big headline from the rescissions effort is that the government will cut off funds to PBS and NPR, which Republicans have long castigated as having a liberal agenda.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 18 July 2025
Each regime, from the Pahlavi dynasty to the Islamic Republic, claimed to uphold human rights and castigated its predecessors as torturers, only to ratchet up the incarceration of political opponents.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Chris Wright castigated European energy generated from wind farms as too costly.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
The court gave the green light for those sweeping immigration operations to continue in Los Angeles — a decision that was praised by the White House and castigated by immigrant rights advocates.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
Payne also castigated the department for failing to provide any of the documents that lawmakers had requested on June 3.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2025
The big headline from the rescissions effort is that the government will cut off funds to PBS and NPR, which Republicans have long castigated as having a liberal agenda.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 18 July 2025
Each regime, from the Pahlavi dynasty to the Islamic Republic, claimed to uphold human rights and castigated its predecessors as torturers, only to ratchet up the incarceration of political opponents.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigated
Verb
-
This came after Nick Saban jokingly scolded himself for not fielding Sayin during their weeks-long overlap in 2023’s postseason at Alabama.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Trump, then in his first term as president, scolded police in a social media post for not protecting the statue.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In one attack in mid-September, the militants attacked a convoy of more than 100 fuel trucks, setting fire to half of them, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), which maps conflicts.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who has trailed Spanberger for most of the race, has attacked Spanberger over Democrats' positions on the government shutdown and focused on trans issues, which helped Republicans win the governor's mansion in 2021.—
Benjamin Siegel,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The footwear giant and aircraft maker have both been unfairly punished, and their turnaround stories remain strong.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
-
And while it's not guaranteed, the president's party is usually punished in the midterms.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Cheen also lectured on the music industry across Asia and Australia.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Augusta was a devout Christian who often lectured the Bible to her sons and blamed alcohol and women for the evils of the world, per the outlet.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Released on November 4, the 10-episode series was immediately slammed by critics, clocking a flat 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Throughout the shutdown, Republicans have slammed the high cost of the subsidies, calling them a relic of the pandemic-era and no longer needed.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
More than a few times in that TV role, Long booked Punk in various matches, reprimanded him for on-television actions, or set up stipulations for his matches against opponents.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Parents’ ongoing protest of teacher removal Rupert has received an outpouring of support since she was reprimanded and transferred to Isador Cohen Elementary for pulling up old carpet in her classroom.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn was criticized on social media for keeping Daniels in the game with the score already insurmountable.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations criticized the FBI’s lack of transparency in the days after the arrests.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At first, Westergaard blamed the breach on an employee who had accidentally left them open and walked off the job.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Bobbitt should have come forward to the board about the error then, Crile said, since it could have been blamed for the error.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Castigated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigated. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share