admonish

verb

ad-ˈmä-nish How to pronounce admonish (audio)
Definition of admonishnext
1
as in to reprimand
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault admonished her for littering

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to advise
to give advice to my physician is always admonishing me to eat more healthy foods

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Example 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 Marsh, the judge who presided over the trial, repeatedly admonished Basabe for bringing up things that the court had previously ruled he wasn’t allowed to mention. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Sinon admonishes his king for failing to properly honor Ithaca’s dead soldiers, contributing to Odysseus’s guilt. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026 The senator even admonished Republican staffers who were protesting outside a DC meeting between the candidate and Senate Democrats. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 July 2026 The judge overseeing the wrongful death civil case that John O'Keefe's family filed against Karen Read admonished more than a dozen lawyers involved in the case on Wednesday. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for admonish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for admonish
  1. reprimand
  2. advise
  3. scold
  4. warn
  5. criticize
  6. teach
  7. blame
  8. chide
Verb
  • Judge William Sullivan declined to declare a mistrial but sharply reprimanded the prosecution and told the jury to disregard Heilbrun’s statements on Clancy’s faith.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The lawsuit says the officer was reprimanded and removed from further field training of Wadell.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of reprimand
Verb
  • Weather officials also advise applying sunscreen every two hours and avoiding alcohol when hot out.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • John Watson, the influential psychologist, advised parents not to hug or kiss their children.
    — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of advise
Verb
  • Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of scold
Verb
  • In response, Macron warned that if American companies can switch off access to breakthroughs like turning off a light, the value of these leading US innovators could itself be damaged.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Analysts warn each ransom payment fuels more crime as armed groups, from rural bandits to Islamist militants, raid schools, mosques and villages, with an average of 21 kidnappings reported daily.
    — Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of warn
Verb
  • The move came days after Stephens publicly criticized EMCC and Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference leadership over changes to the league’s football schedule and playoff format.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also defended the decision to increase bond purchases earlier last month, after investor Stanley Druckenmiller criticized the move.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • Winner had a choice Johnson lives in Goldston and has taught middle school for about 20 years.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The couple's home is near the former San Francisco Art Institute, where prominent sculptor Ralph Stackpole taught for decades — leading Gittelsohn to believe the piece may have a connection to him or one of his students.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of teach
Verb
  • Heaping credit onto Espada is dangerous, but so is blaming him for every game that goes awry.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • That war ended in a humiliating defeat by an enemy regarded as much weaker, and many tsarist officials blamed the outcome on Japanese spies and saboteurs.
    — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of blame
Verb
  • Some friends chided me (which is fine) for posing with a liberal Zionist.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • Salazar, a fierce interrogator, chided him about leaving Rodríguez in charge.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of chide

Browse Nearby Words

admixtures
admonish
admonished
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Cite this Entry

“Admonish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/admonish. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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