CASTIGATES Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

castigates

verb

present tense third-person singular of castigate

as in scolds

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings castigated him for his constant tardiness

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as in attacks

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

as in punishes

to inflict a penalty on for a fault or crime a judge who believes in castigating criminals to the full extent of the law

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for castigates

Verb

Some intergenerational sparring ensues, as Kevin scolds Arthur for his more outré boomer comments, and Arthur in turn sneers at his grandson’s millennial lameness.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolds

Verb

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks healthy cells in the central nervous system.

— Mark Morales, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Why Autoimmune Diseases Are Easy to Miss Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacks

Verb

This type of leader isn’t likely to emerge in a political culture that rewards antics and showmanship and punishes seriousness and integrity.

— Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Oct. 2026
That timeline rewards commitment and punishes constant switching, which is how most routines fail.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of punishes

Verb

These days, the Ambassador has to handle a different set of challenges such as handling the fallout when the boss criticizes the British Prime Minister on social media.

— Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
One candidate promises to lower gas and grocery prices and criticizes the incumbent for not doing so (as if politicians can control the market).

— Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticizes

Verb

There’s seat-shaking violence in how the whale breaches the surface and slams its weight back down (the crafty sound design is by James Miller) and body horror in its claustrophobic, spongy inner chambers.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
There are currently more than 85,000 customers without power across the Northeast, including New York City and Connecticut, as an intensifying early-season nor’easter slams the region with strong wind, soaking rain and coastal flooding.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of slams

Verb

Smullen’s campaign launched an anti-Constantino website that excoriates him for, among many other things, his past registration as a Democrat.

— Michael Hill, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Woodcutters sets forth the musings of a narrator sitting in an armchair at a dinner party who excoriates the literary awards establishments of his native land (and by extension all lands that are host to a robust bourgeoisie).

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026

Definition of excoriates

Verb

Being a fly on the wall is precisely what Hard Knocks makes viewers feel like in the moment when Head Coach Mike Macdonald reprimands linebacker Derick Hall for getting too close to a quarterback.

— Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
The emperor reprimands her for being late for the rainmaking ritual.

— Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026

Definition of reprimands

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.

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castigated

castigates

castigating

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“Castigates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castigates. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of castigates

verb

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