castigation
UK: ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən | US: ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən
n. severe criticism or punishment
n. the act of reprimanding harshly
castigation = castig<correct/punish> + ation<noun suffix>
- castig (from Latin castigare, meaning "to correct, chastise" < castus (pure) + agere (to drive/do))
- ation (noun-forming suffix indicating action or result)
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin castigare, combining castus (pure) and agere (to drive/do). It originally implied "driving toward purity" through discipline, later narrowing to mean harsh correction. The suffix -ation standardizes it as a noun denoting the act or result of chastising.
The teacher’s castigation of the student’s behavior was stern but fair.
His public castigation by the media left him humiliated.
The manager avoided castigation and opted for constructive feedback.
Political castigation often escalates into personal attacks.
The editorial was a scathing castigation of corporate greed.