Today's Word

Castigate

KAS-tih-gayt

Definition

(verb) To reprimand someone severely; to criticize harshly.

Example

The editor castigated the writer for missing yet another deadline.

Word Origin

Early 17th century: from Latin castigare, from castus ‘pure’ + agere ‘to drive’.

Fun Fact

Castigate doesn’t just mean to critique—it means to come down hard, often with a tone of moral authority. In the past, it could even refer to physical punishment, but today it’s used more metaphorically: a boss tearing into an employee, a coach yelling during halftime, or a pundit scolding a public figure. It’s always loud, sharp, and meant to correct.

Previous Words

Pragmatic

Today's Word

Pragmatic

prag-MAT-ik

Definition

(adjective) focused on practical results and real-world consequences rather than ideals, theories, or abstract principles.

Example

Instead of arguing over perfect solutions, she took a pragmatic approach and fixed what could be done immediately.

Word Origin

Pragmatic traces back to the Greek word pragmatikos, meaning “relating to deeds or actions,” from pragma (“thing done” or “action”). It entered English in the late 16th century, originally referring to people skilled in managing practical affairs, before evolving into its modern meaning of valuing usefulness and outcomes over theory.

Fun Fact

In philosophy, pragmatism became a major movement in the late 1800s, arguing that ideas should be judged by how well they work in real life—not by whether they sound good in theory. That mindset still shapes modern problem-solving, from business decisions to software design, where a “good enough” solution that works today often beats a perfect one that never ships.

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Castigate

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Pragmatic

Pragmatic

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Pragmatic

Semaphore

Portentous

Blandishment

Sequester