as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
a castigating task that succeeds in doing nothing more than making the lives of the inmates miserable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in scolding
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
castigated him for his constant tardiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacking
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a newspaper editorial castigating the city council for approving the project in the first place
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in punishing
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
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Recent Examples of castigating
Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
So maybe rather than castigating them, other teams would do well to emulate them.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Nearly a year before the March elections, ads began to appear in Rogers’ district castigating him not simply as a RINO but as a closet liberal who supported gun control and Shariah law.
—Ava Kofman, ProPublica, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
In recent days, the hits have come from all sides, with her 2022 challenger, billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso, castigating Bass in the media for her absence and handling of the fire.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
So maybe rather than castigating them, other teams would do well to emulate them.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Nearly a year before the March elections, ads began to appear in Rogers’ district castigating him not simply as a RINO but as a closet liberal who supported gun control and Shariah law.
—Ava Kofman, ProPublica, 2 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigating
Adjective
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His legal team condemned the plan as unconstitutional and punitive, warning that without assurances from Liberia, Abrego Garcia could be sent back to El Salvador.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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Professional development for teachers focuses on positive, rather than punitive, behavioral and engagement practices.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Like an impatient parent scolding their toddler, Frankenstein grows frustrated with his monster’s limited capacity for speech.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
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Rodgers stayed down for a moment before getting to his feet and giving a quick two-handed push to Jones’ chest while scolding him.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The role of the double pivot is to protect the centre-backs and provide the defensive foundation when the team is attacking.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The Real Housewives of New York City star was arrested in December 2017 after reportedly attacking a police officer in Palm Beach, Florida — nearly one year after she wed now-ex Tom D'Agostino.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fact that the NBA cleared Rozier at the time does not mean the league is prevented from punishing him later.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Authoritarian approaches to governing rely on scapegoating people, policing thought and speech, and punishing dissent.—
Elizabeth Anne Wood,
The Conversation,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Since exiting Dries Van Noten a few years ago, Scallon has been working as an independent consultant and mentor in fashion communications strategy, also lecturing occasionally and sharing his views about creative content on podcasts.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
25 Sep. 2025
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The same woman Don had been lecturing about beer.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Back in 1961, residents of Capitola woke up to find that hordes of black seabirds were slamming into cars, windows and people's homes and dying.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Ford said earlier that his province was spending $75 million to run ads in the United States slamming the impact of tariffs and featuring clips of Reagan.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When conversation veers into controversial territory, Gott suggests redirecting rather than reprimanding.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
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To this end, Cucinelli urged the independent players to tap into the online commerce without betraying their identity of exclusivity and desirability, subtly reprimanding those who embraced the gray market outright.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Instead of criticizing yourself for not following through, get curious.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Oct. 2025
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Trump has argued the White House needs a large entertaining space, criticizing the past practice of presidents hosting state dinners and other large events in tents on the South Lawn.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Castigating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigating. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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