Definition of ADMONISH

Choose the Right Synonym for admonish

reprove, rebuke, reprimand, admonish, reproach, chide mean to criticize adversely. reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault. gently reproved my table manners rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof. the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke. reprimanded by the ethics committee admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel. admonished by my parents to control expenses reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding. reproached him for tardiness chided by their mother for untidiness

When Should You Use admonish?

Admonish was borrowed in the 14th century (via Anglo-French) from Vulgar Latin admonestare, which is itself an alteration of the Latin verb admonēre, meaning "to warn." Admonēre, in turn, was formed by the combination of the prefix ad- and monēre, "to warn." Other descendants of monēre in English include monitor, monitory ("giving a warning"), premonition, and even a now archaic synonym of admonish, monish. Incidentally, admonish has a number of other synonyms as well, including reprove, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, and chide.

Examples of admonish in a Sentence

"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 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 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 They were admonished to take advantage of the opportunity. my physician is always admonishing me to eat more healthy foods

Recent Examples on the Web

Hugin, however, running in the Republican primary spent a lot of time, or at least some, publicizing the fact that Senator Menendez had been admonished by the Senate for essentially doing the work of donors. — Fox News, "Sen. Toomey on move to curb Trump's trade authority," 10 June 2018 The interlude came shortly after Ellis admonished prosecutors in the early afternoon for seeking to introduce an exhibit that was dozens of pages long. — Gregg Re, Fox News, "Judge Ellis calls on Mueller team to 'really sharply focus' inquiries, as prosecutors ask witness about emoji," 9 Aug. 2018 Grassley also admonished Senate Democrats — especially Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) — for keeping Ford's letter about Kavanaugh secret, despite the fact that confidentiality was exactly what Ford had requested of Feinstein. — Jewel Wicker, Teen Vogue, "Senator Chuck Grassley Got Called Out for His Behavior During the Ford-Kavanaugh Hearing," 27 Sep. 2018 But admonishing the cast of Black Panther or Crazy Rich Asians for not using their monumental films to raise awareness of representation in fashion misses the point entirely. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "The Crazy Rich Asians cast was criticized for not wearing Asian designers to their premiere. That’s ridiculous.," 10 Aug. 2018 Just hours after Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team and Judge T.S. Ellis came to something of a cease-fire in their courtroom war of words, Ellis was back to admonishing prosecutors in front of jurors on Thursday. — Gregg Re, Fox News, "Judge Ellis calls on Mueller team to 'really sharply focus' inquiries, as prosecutors ask witness about emoji," 9 Aug. 2018 Others on the panel weren’t so adamant about admonishing those who’ve been attacked. — Stephen A. Crockett Jr., The Root, "Sen. Cory Booker Blames Low Voter Turnout for Republican Victories," 23 Apr. 2018 In August 2017, a French national by the name of Guillaume Rey was fired from his job as a waiter in a Vancouver chain restaurant after admonishing a junior member of the team. — Danny Wallace, Time, "A Waiter Was Fired for Bad Manners. But Was He Super Rude or Just French?," 28 Mar. 2018 During the trip, my partner playfully admonished me for exceeding the speed limit. — Shelby Grad, latimes.com, "Essential California: A major blow to public employee unions," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'admonish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for admonish

Middle English amonysshen, admonisshen, amonescen, alteration (with assimilation to the verbal suffix -issh, -esce, borrowed from Anglo-French -iss-, going back to the Latin inceptive suffix -ēsc-, -īsc-) of amonesten, borrowed from Anglo-French amonester, going back to Vulgar Latin *admonestāre, probably derivative of *admonestus, past participle of Latin admonēre "to give a reminder to, give advice to, caution" (modeled on comestus, past participle of comedere "to eat up, consume") from ad- ad- + monēre "to bring to the notice of, give warning" — more at mind entry 1

Note: The source of *admonestāre is uncertain. A cross between admonēre and molestāre, "to disturb, annoy, worry," has been hypothesized, though the lack of any Romance progeny for molestus, molestāre, etc., militates against the presence of this verb in proto-Romance.

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