reproach 1 of 2

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as in disgrace
a cause of shame your public display of boorish behavior is a reproach to this entire school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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reproach

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reproach contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reproach are admonish, chide, rebuke, reprimand, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

In what contexts can admonish take the place of reproach?

While the synonyms admonish and reproach are close in meaning, admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When can rebuke be used instead of reproach?

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

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

When could reprimand be used to replace reproach?

Although the words reprimand and reproach have much in common, reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

Where would reprove be a reasonable alternative to reproach?

In some situations, the words reprove and reproach are roughly equivalent. However, 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 reproach
Noun
Harry and his friends are gleeful consumers of toys and collectibles, eagerly partaking in all the commercial opportunities offered by Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade without textual reproach. Literary Hub, 26 June 2025 The likelihood of being dealt is a best-guess projection (from red as unlikely through yellow to green as likely) and the rankings are beyond reproach. Eno Sarris, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Verb
While some online trolls criticized the actress' appearance, other observers rushed to her defense, calling out the comments' lecherous and misogynistic overtones and reproaching the invasion of privacy represented by the photos themselves. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024 We are reproached for being too thin or too plump, for eating too little or too much. Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 12 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for reproach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reproach
Noun
  • This person has brought shame and disgrace to the badge and to an honorable profession.
    Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Discovery meant discharge and disgrace.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The United Kingdom, France, Australia and Canada, amongst a number of other western countries, have announced their recognition of Palestine, drawing condemnation from Netanyahu.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
  • While many governments defended Israel's initial right to respond to the attack, the scale of civilian death and suffering wrought by its war have drawn increasing international condemnation and isolation for the Jewish state.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This person has brought shame and disgrace to the badge and to an honorable profession.
    Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • People can feel a lot of shame about being in credit card debt.
    Malaka Gharib, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Rachel Dratch scolded Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz for laughing while rehearsing the original Debbie Downer sketch on Saturday Night Live.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
  • There, she is repeatedly scolded, first by a testy parking attendant (Mark Stolzenberg), and then by a doctor (Bronstein), who warns Linda of consequences if her daughter doesn’t soon reach her target weight of fifty pounds.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Cast members immediately reacted to Caroline’s misgendering, with some reprimanding her, while others covered their faces in embarrassment.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 8 Oct. 2025
  • When a school principal (Ashley Padilla) and a teacher (Mikey Day) reprimand a student (Hernandez) for disturbing drawings of him attacking the principal, the student’s father (Bad Bunny) comes in, and Padilla’s principal, immediately smitten, changes course to hitting on the student’s father.
    Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Palestinian national cause can indeed be a magnet for anti-Semites looking for excuses to censure Jews or Israel, such as David Duke and Candace Owens.
    Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025
  • On September 18, the House narrowly rejected the resolution to censure Omar over her remarks and social media posts following the assassination of Kirk.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • At home, Takaichi must rebuild public trust after years of scandal within her party.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The scandal erupted after Us Weekly published photos and surveillance footage showing Rimes and Cibrian on a romantic date.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Healing means reminding myself to have self-compassion instead of contempt.
    Angela Kenzslowe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Sparks is accused of not only failing to purge two prior contempt findings, but has since engaged in behavior resulting in an additional finding of contempt.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reproach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproach. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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