reprove

1 to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault <my piano teacher often reproves me for slouching while playing, observing that good posture helps one play better> Synonyms admonish, chide, reprimand, reproach, rebuke, tick offRelated 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, scornNear Antonyms approve, endorse (also indorse), OK (or okay), sanction; applaud, extol (also extoll), hail, laud, praise, salute, tout

2 to express public or formal disapproval of <the principal reproved the hockey team for their display of poor sportsmanship on the ice and ordered that a letter of apology be sent to the other school> Synonyms condemn, denounce, objurgate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, censureRelated Words admonish, chastise; castigate, punish; bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid; belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparageNear Antonyms acclaim, applause, hail, honor; eulogize, laud, praise; approve, bless, sanctionAntonyms cite, commend, endorse (also indorse)

3 to hold an unfavorable opinion of <the older generation has always reproved the younger generation's taste in music> Synonyms deprecate, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, dislike, frown (on or upon), mislike, disapprove, tsk-tsk, tut (over or about), tut-tut (over or about)Related Words disrelish, object (to), pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject, reprehend, reprobate, scorn; censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, discommend; chide, rebuke, reproach, scoldNear Antonyms endorse (also indorse), sanction, support; adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, relish, revel (in)Antonyms approve, favor, like