verb
castigate
KAS-tih-gayt/ˈkæstɪɡeɪt/
To criticize someone severely.
The supervisor castigates the colleague, who listens with lowered eyes.
Etymology
“Pure” and “do” combine in the idea of making someone pure through correction. The resulting sense of chastising or punishing underlies today's severe verbal reprimand.
In context
you know they have the right to castigate you to chastise you to publicly humiliate you
More examples
- Critics castigated the film's careless treatment of history.
- She refuses to castigate someone for an honest mistake.
- The report castigates officials who concealed the evidence.
Forms
castigate · castigates · castigated · castigating
castigation noun — Severe criticism or reprimand.