verb to criticize or reprimand severely
Officers may castigate soldiers for not following orders.
Politicians often castigate their opponents for their policies or actions.
Leaders in religious institutions may castigate followers for not following the teachings.
Parents may castigate their children for misbehaving.
Teachers may castigate students for not completing their assignments on time.
Coaches may castigate players for not giving their best effort on the field.
In a literary review, the critic may castigate the author for their lack of character development.
A psychologist may use the term 'castigate' when discussing unhealthy patterns of self-blame in therapy sessions.
A teacher may castigate a student for not completing their homework on time.
A manager may castigate an employee for repeatedly failing to meet deadlines.