Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The sentence reads: "He castigated her for her insensitive remarks." We need a word that means nearly the same as the underlined word "castigated."
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
The word "castigate" comes from Latin "castigare," meaning to punish or correct through harsh criticism. In everyday English, to castigate someone means to criticize them severely and openly for something they did wrong.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Look at each option against this meaning.
"Praised" means to express approval, which is the opposite of what castigate means, so option (a) is wrong.
"Defended" means to support or protect someone, again the reverse of scolding them, so option (b) is wrong.
"Criticized" means to express strong disapproval or find fault with someone, which matches the harsh, disapproving tone of "castigated" closely, so option (c) fits.
"Ignored" means to pay no attention at all, but castigating someone is an active, vocal act, not a passive one, so option (d) is wrong.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The word closest in meaning to "castigated" is "criticized," so the correct option is (c).