Castigated Johnny rebel for upsetting the duke (7)
I believe the answer is:
rebuked
'castigated johnny' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'rebel for upsetting the duke' is the wordplay.
'rebel' becomes 'reb' (synonyms).
'for' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'upsetting' indicates anagramming the letters.
'duke' anagrammed gives 'uked'.
'reb'+'uked'='REBUKED'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rebuked that I've seen before include "Remonstrated" , "Berated, censured" , "Lectured" , "Upbraided" , "Told off" .)