castigation
Harsh verbal punishment
Castigation is severe criticism or punishment, a harsh reprimand meant to correct wrongdoing.
The word carries a formal, almost old-fashioned tone: The senator's castigation of his colleagues made headlines.
To castigate someone is to rebuke them sharply, often publicly.
The noun implies not just disapproval but forceful condemnation intended to shame or discipline.
Formal expression of disapproval
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
denunciation · upbraiding · berating · reproach · lambasting · tirade · harangue · tongue-lashing
Formal scolding or correction
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
sanction · judgment · penance · atonement · reckoning · comeuppance · just deserts
Beating as punishment
- whippingRepeated striking blows
- lashingBeating or binding
- beatingRepeated striking or pulsing
- thrashingDecisive, lopsided defeat
scourging · spanking · caning · birching · horsewhipping · strapping · switching · paddling
Unsparing quality or manner
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- sternnessUncompromising strictness of manner
- rigorStrict, thorough precision
- strictnessInflexibility in enforcement
mercilessness · relentlessness · viciousness · fierceness · intensity · draconian · unsparing · pitiless
reprimand
Formal expression of disapproval
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- admonishmentExpression of disapproval or warning
censure · denunciation · upbraiding · berating · reproach · lambasting · tirade · harangue · tongue-lashing · dressing-down
chastisement
Formal scolding or correction
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
discipline · sanction · judgment · penance · atonement · reckoning · comeuppance · just deserts
flogging
Beating as punishment
thrashing · scourging · spanking · caning · birching · horsewhipping · strapping · switching · paddling · smacking
harshness
Unsparing quality or manner
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- sternnessUncompromising strictness of manner
- rigorStrict, thorough precision
strictness · mercilessness · relentlessness · viciousness · fierceness · intensity · draconian · unsparing · pitiless · scathing
- reprimandsrebuke, reprimand, censure, admonition, scolding
- reproofsscolding, rebuke, reprimand, admonishment, admonition
- condemnationcondemnation, censure, rebuke, denunciation, reproach
- denunciationscondemnation, censure, rebuke, reprimand, accusation
- tiradestirades, tirade, rants, rant, harangues
castigationpraise
Expression of approval
commendation · laudation · acclaim · approbation · applause
castigationpardon
Official release from punishment
forgiveness · absolution · clemency · exoneration · exculpation
castigationexoneration
Official clearing of blame
vindication · acquittal · exculpation · absolution · clearance