admonish

ad·mon·ish

verb \ad-ˈmä-nish\

Definition of ADMONISH

transitive verb

1

a : to indicate duties or obligations to b : to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner

2

: to give friendly earnest advice or encouragement to

— ad·mon·ish·er noun

— ad·mon·ish·ing·ly \-ni-shiŋ-lē\ adverb

— ad·mon·ish·ment \-mənt\ noun

Examples of ADMONISH

1. They were admonished to take advantage of the opportunity.
2. <my physician is always admonishing me to eat more healthy foods>
3. “You landed in back of him,” said Paul, my guide and friend. As he admonished me, the fish turned obligingly, opened its mouth, wide and white, and engulfed my fly. —Peter Kaminsky, New York Times, 17 June 2001
4. He is sympathetic but never condescending, or patronizing, or moralizing. His purpose is not to admonish or deplore but to understand. —C. Vann Woodward, New York Times Book Review, 5 Feb. 1989
5. Cops are, from the first day in the academy, admonished that juveniles must not be shot unless in dire emergency … —Joseph Wambaugh, Lines and Shadows, 1984

Origin of ADMONISH

Middle English admonesten, from Anglo-French amonester, from Vulgar Latin *admonestare, alteration of Latin admonēre to warn, from ad- + monēre to warn — more at mind

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ADMONISH

Synonyms: rebuke, chide, reprimand, reproach, reprove, tick off

Related Words: berate, castigate, chew out, dress down, flay, harangue, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, upbraid; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, knock, lash, pan, reprehend, slam; belittle, deprecate, disparage, minimize, mock, put down; deride, ridicule, scoff, scorn

Near Antonyms: approve, endorse (also indorse), OK (or okay), sanction; applaud, extol (also extoll), hail, laud, praise, salute, tout

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at reprove

Rhymes with ADMONISH

astonish, premonish