as in punishment
suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense
the loss of his father's trust was the harshest castigation that the boy could have possibly received for having told the lie
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Recent Examples of castigation
The standoff centered on the now-former assistant attorney general’s public and internal castigation of pediatric gender medicine.
—
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 31 Jan. 2026
His reverence for hip-hop led to a poignant self-reflection on whether his new approach would be the subject of castigation among the hip-hop faithful.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Apart from its castigation of non-fossil energy, the strategy document in some ways departs from the Biden administration more in style than substance.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Links with nonprofit group The recent castigations from progressive Democrats were driven in part by the Opportunity Caucus’s ties to One Main Street.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2025
Like legions of dreamers before him, McGuirk started on film and TV sets as a PA, an often thankless job where random castigations from members of the cast or crew can be par for the course.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 31 Jan. 2026
His reverence for hip-hop led to a poignant self-reflection on whether his new approach would be the subject of castigation among the hip-hop faithful.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Apart from its castigation of non-fossil energy, the strategy document in some ways departs from the Biden administration more in style than substance.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Links with nonprofit group The recent castigations from progressive Democrats were driven in part by the Opportunity Caucus’s ties to One Main Street.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2025
Like legions of dreamers before him, McGuirk started on film and TV sets as a PA, an often thankless job where random castigations from members of the cast or crew can be par for the course.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigation
Noun
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Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said Clark deserved a tougher punishment, including being barred from practicing law in the state.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Prosecutors in the case recommended the death penalty as punishment for Yoon, given the severity of his crimes.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The photoshoot was themed around the seven deadly sins, with Rondot being assigned to portray wrath.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
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Get ready for the wrath of the readers.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Last Thursday, the league issued a $500,000 fine to the Utah Jazz and a $100,000 penalty to the Indiana Pacers for sitting healthy players, believing their apparent tanking actions compromised the league's competitive integrity.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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But with the puck sitting just outside the crease on the Eichel chance, the Germans were forced to take a penalty.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Castigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigation. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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