Synonym Chooser

How does the verb admonish contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of admonish are chide, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

Where would rebuke be a reasonable alternative to admonish?

The words rebuke and admonish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

When is it sensible to use reprimand instead of admonish?

While in some cases nearly identical to admonish, reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

How are the words reproach and chide related as synonyms of admonish?

Both reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

When is reprove a more appropriate choice than admonish?

The words reprove and admonish can be used in similar contexts, but reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of admonish Sagging had made young Black men objects of scorn, particularly by the paternalists—Bill Cosby, the father; Barack Obama, the politician; and Eric Adams, the cop—who had each done their separate campaigns admonishing the brothers for not pulling up their pants. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2024 Hankison should have known his actions during the Taylor raid were unacceptable since he had been admonished for similar actions in the past, prosecutors argued. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 14 Oct. 2024 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced angry protests from Israelis admonishing him to end the war and bring the captives home. Erin McLaughlin, NBC News, 14 Oct. 2024 The issue of crying babies on planes is a frequent source of conflict, with some passengers glaring, yelling or more recently, locking the offending child in the lavatory to admonish them. Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for admonish 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for admonish
Verb
  • Judge denies Preston Lord defendant's request to return case to grand jury Cochise County judge reprimanded for issuing improper arrest warrant Tucson robbery cases for the year's first nine months were tacked at 598, reflecting a spike of 25 from all of last year.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024
  • The Democratic chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee reprimanded the heads of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security for failing to appear for an annual hearing.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The council advises the president on economic policy and prepares the annual Economic Report of the President.
    Graham Kates, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
  • This position involves advising senior FinCEN and Treasury leadership on strategies to enhance the effectiveness of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing efforts.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Still, watching Hannah scold him about everything, from 401(k)s to boiling water to phone bills, from ordering him to walk a dog that doesn’t belong to him to telling him that riding hotel pool furniture would give her the ick, was painful.
    Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Dolores returns to scold her grandson for badmouthing her during the show’s Día de los Muertos episode, which airs on NBC on Friday, Oct. 25.
    Brendan Le, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Business owners and economists alike warn that mass deportations, along with stricter border measures and the revoking of Biden-era protections, could have a seismic impact on the labor market and the US economy.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Tangent Icelandic officials warned about gas pollution from the eruption that could affect nearby towns.
    Ty Roush, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Thao, the first Hmong American mayor to lead a major American city, was criticized shortly after taking office for letting go of a police chief and taking months to replace him.
    Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • But the group has largely been shy about criticizing Trump openly.
    Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • How much weight a child can lift is far less important than teaching them good movement patterns.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
  • Many readers have told me my booklet has served as a valuable tool in teaching their children basic good manners.
    Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The spokesperson noted that the failure to win a loan guarantee from the German government wasn't down to Lilium's technology, but instead was blamed on disagreement in parliament from the Green Party over funding an air travel company.
    Nicole Kobie, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
  • An American citizen has died at a popular adventure spot in Laos where alcohol tainted with methanol has been blamed for a spate of poisonings in recent days.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • After lightly chiding these gents for two movies, director Michael Winterbottom finally takes the knives out and begins to punish them, a decision that results in two late scenes that border on sociopathic and culminates in an unimaginably absurd ending that refuses to let Coogan off the hook.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
  • After the game, Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack chided Fox in the locker room for missing Winston at one point and failing to get a third sack.
    Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near admonish

Cite this Entry

“Admonish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/admonish. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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