cas·ti·gate [ kásti gàyt ](past and past participlecas·ti·gat·ed, present participlecas·ti·gat·ing, 3rd person present singularcas·ti·gates)
transitive verb
Definition:
criticize somebody or something: to criticize or rebuke somebody or somebody's behavior severely
(
formal
)
(
often passive
)
They were strongly castigated for their refusal to act.
[Early 17th century. < Latin castigat-, past participle of castigare "chastise" < castus "chaste"]
