Castigate

To castigate means to reprimand someone severely. It involves inflicting strong criticism or punishment on someone for their actions or behaviour. The act aims to correct wrongdoing, improve conduct, or express disapproval. It's a formal term often used in contexts where standards are high, and breaches are considered serious. The goal of castigation can vary, from moral correction to deterring future misconduct. It implies a judgment, often public, that holds individuals accountable for their mistakes, highlighting the severity of their actions and potentially causing shame or humiliation. Often found in professional, political, or academic environments.

Castigate meaning with examples

• The ethics committee was expected to castigate the CEO for his blatant disregard of company policy. His actions led to significant financial loss and damaged the company's reputation, so the formal reprimand was the least they could do. The board members felt a responsibility to address this publicly in the hopes it might affect his behaviour in the future.
• In her scathing editorial, the columnist did not hesitate to castigate the politician's unethical behaviour, calling his actions a betrayal of public trust. She was not afraid of any public backlash; her aim was to bring to light the truth and hold him accountable for his dishonest practices. She made sure to highlight how his dishonesty and actions could affect his position.
• The teacher chose to castigate the students who disrupted the class, emphasizing the importance of respect and order. There were many warnings that the teacher issued; this was the final warning to the class to set an example of them for the rest of the class. As a consequence, the students were suspended. She used their actions as an example to set the standard.
• After the athlete's performance, the coach was prepared to castigate the team for their poor execution of the game plan, even though they tried their best. Their failure to practice and prepare for the game showed in their game performance. He stressed the need for more discipline and dedication to improve future performance. The coach understood that to excel, they would need to be more disciplined in practice.
• The judge decided to castigate the defendant for their violent crime, sentencing them to a long term in prison. He hoped that the punishment would discourage others from similar acts of aggression. The aim was to deter similar actions and uphold the principle of justice within the legal system. His goal was to uphold society's rules.