Synonyms

fustigate

American

[fuhs-ti-geyt] / ˈfʌs tɪˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object)

fustigated, fustigating

to cudgel; beat; punish severely.
to criticize harshly; castigate.

a new satire that fustigates bureaucratic shilly-shallying.

fustigate British

/ ˈfʌstɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

archaic (tr) to beat; cudgel

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

fustigation noun
fustigator noun
fustigatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of fustigate

First recorded in 1650–60; from Late Latin fūstīgātus, past participle of fūstigāre “to cudgel to death,” derivative of the noun fūstis “a stick, club, cudgel” + -igāre, combining form of agere “to drive, do, act”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To fustigate is rather more widely known, even having featured in an episode of The Simpsons.

From BBC

His heart’s in the right place, but they’re going to fustigate the poor guy.

From Time

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023