Castigating: meaning, definitions and examples

criticism, punishment

To castigate means to reprimand someone severely. It is often used to refer to the act of calling out a person's faults or mistakes in a harsh manner. This term conveys a sense of strong disapproval and may apply to both personal and professional contexts. Castigating can involve verbal chastisement and may be intended to correct someone's behavior or inform them of their errors.

censure, chastise, rebuke, reprimand, scold

Examples of usage

• The teacher castigated the student for not completing his assignment on time.

• During the meeting, the manager castigated the team for missing the deadline.

• The critic's review was a chastising account of the filmmaker's latest work.