verb
- to criticize or punish someone severely
Usage: formal
Examples
- The teacher castigates students who cheat on exams.
- The editorial castigates the mayor for his poor handling of the crisis.
- She castigates herself for making such a careless mistake.
- The coach castigates players who don’t follow team rules.
- Critics castigate the film for its poor dialogue and weak plot.
- The senator castigates his opponent’s voting record during the debate.