SAT vocabulary: castigation

Bas-relief sculpture with one man flogging another — The ancients apparently used feather dusters as weapons.

What does castigation mean? Read below for the definition.

Quick vocab quiz for the word castigation

First, before you read about the word castigation, try this quick vocab quiz:

castigation most nearly means

(A) pain
(B) scolding
(C) information
(D) temptation
(E) rescue

Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)

Now let’s learn about the word castigation.

Part of Speech of castigation

castigation is a NOUN.

Pronunciation castigation

Here’s how to pronounce castigation:

IPA: /kæ.stɪ.ˈgeɪ.ʃən/

Glossary-style: [kah-stih-GAY-shuhn]

Definition of castigation

castigation means: severe criticism (Ex: acts worthy of castigation). severe punishment.

Explain more about castigation, please

castigation has a few meanings that are related. castigation means a kind of harsh criticism, especially criticims that is angry and results from immoral or bad behavior. (The idea is that the castigation comes from someone getting very angry about something he thinks is wrong.)

castigation can also refer to a kind of punishment, although it’s unusual to use this word as a simple synonym of punishment.

Example of castigation

Here’s the word castigation used in a sentence:

The vicious castigation the politician received was well-deserved–he lied to the public about his family life and ultimately abandoned his wife in her time of need.

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