castigate
Verbally tear apart
To castigate is to criticize or reprimand severely.
The word carries a formal, almost literary tone—you're more likely to encounter it in editorials than everyday speech: The senator was castigated for his remarks.
Castigate implies public rebuke or harsh verbal punishment rather than physical discipline.
Formal expression of disapproval
- admonishReprove with counsel
- scoldRebuke harshly
- berateCriticize severely and lengthily
- upbraidCriticize harshly, verbally
censure · condemn · denounce · reproach · lambaste · criticize · chide · lecture
Scornful imitation or fake
- derideMock with contempt
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- humiliateCause painful shame
- pilloryPublic punishment restraint
lambast · excoriate · vilify · attack · assail · flay · eviscerate · roast
Impose a disadvantage for wrongdoing
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- correctFree from error
punish · retribution · penalty · consequence · penance · judgment · stricture · whip
Detailed evaluative analysis
- reviewCritical written assessment
- evaluateDetermine value or quality
- assessJudge worth or quality
- appraiseDetermine value of
commentary · feedback · analysis · judgment · examination · editorial · pan · slam
Discipline to improve
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- correctFree from error
- moralizePontificate about ethics
- improveRaise in quality
redemption · repentance · contrition · guilt · shame · remorse · atonement · penitence
reprimand
Formal expression of disapproval
upbraid · censure · condemn · denounce · reproach · lambaste · criticize · chide · lecture · reprove
mock
Scornful imitation or fake
pillory · lambast · excoriate · vilify · attack · assail · flay · eviscerate · roast · skewer
penalize
Impose a disadvantage for wrongdoing
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
correct · punish · retribution · penalty · consequence · penance · judgment · stricture · whip · scourge
critique
Detailed evaluative analysis
appraise · commentary · feedback · analysis · judgment · examination · editorial · pan · slam · pillory
chasten
Discipline to improve
improve · redemption · repentance · contrition · guilt · shame · remorse · atonement · penitence · self-reproach
scathing
Severely and bitingly critical
merciless · brutal · biting · sharp · caustic · vitriolic · withering · blistering · stinging · acerbic
- rebukescold, reprimand, chide, admonish, berate
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand
- disapprovaldisapproval, scowl, disapprove, disapproves, frown
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
castigation, castigated, castigating, castigates, castigations