Question

From the given options, choose the word that is most nearly the same in meaning to the underlined word.

He castigated her for her insensitive remarks.

• A. praised
• B. defended
• C. criticized
• D. ignored

Hint:

Think about what it means to scold or reprimand someone harshly for a fault.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

This question tests vocabulary in context. The sentence says a man was scolded harshly for careless remarks, and we must pick the option word that carries the same weight as "castigated."

1. praised: this means to speak well of someone. It carries a positive tone, the exact opposite of scolding someone for a fault, so it does not fit.
2. defended: this means to stand up for someone or shield them from blame. Castigating a person is about assigning blame, not removing it, so this option does not match either.
3. criticized: this means to judge someone harshly and point out their faults openly, which is exactly what castigate means. This is the correct match.
4. ignored: this means to take no notice of something. Castigating someone requires direct, pointed comment, the opposite of staying silent, so this option is wrong too.

Since "castigated" means to reprimand someone strongly for a fault, the word that carries the same sense here is "criticized."

Let's summarize:

• "Castigate" always carries a negative, scolding sense, so any positive or neutral option can be ruled out right away.
• "Criticized" is the only option that keeps the same harsh, fault finding tone as the original word.

So the correct answer is option (c), criticized.