self-castigation

noun

self-cas·​ti·​ga·​tion ˌself-ˌka-stə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce self-castigation (audio)
plural self-castigations
: punishment, reproof, or criticism of oneself
… that inner voice—in women's guilt and self-castigation around selfishness today.Lila MacLellan
… beaten down by a steady stream of self-castigations.Nina Schuyler
self-castigate intransitive verb
self-castigated; self-castigating; self-castigates
a desire to self-castigate

Examples of self-castigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
And for that kind of compromise, self-castigations far exceed any possible public ones. Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 18 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-castigation was in 1759

Dictionary Entries Near self-castigation

Cite this Entry

“Self-castigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-castigation. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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