1
as in lawyer
a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations
if you cannot afford counsel, one will be provided for you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in advice
an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action
I suggest you take the teacher's counsel
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in adviser
a person who gives advice especially professionally
the toy manufacturer hired a public relations counsel to do some damage control
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in consult
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue
she approved the move after a counsel with her advisers
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to consult
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem
concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to guide
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed
every year the admissions officer counsels thousands of students about the process of applying to college
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to advise
to give advice to
perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counsel
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
Other duties include providing legal support when the agency is engaged in litigation in coordination with the attorney general and chief counsel.
—Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
My husband came to counseling one time but said about two words and didn’t come back.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Noun
The President, en route back to Washington, had Mitchell and the White House counsel, John Ehrlichman, draft a statement backing down even further.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
Other duties include providing legal support when the agency is engaged in litigation in coordination with the attorney general and chief counsel.
—Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
Sanders had uncovered in 2014 that Rackauckas’ prosecutors and sheriff’s deputies for years had illegally used jailhouse informants to coax confessions from defendants who had attorneys, in violation of their right to counsel.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
My husband came to counseling one time but said about two words and didn’t come back.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsel
Noun
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Reporters interviewed dozens of former regime officials, many of whom spoke on condition of anonymity for their safety, as well as Syrian human rights lawyers, European law enforcement, civil society groups and members of the new Syrian government.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The Right to Counsel program has since boosted the percentage of those with lawyers from 4% before the pandemic to up to 70% this year, a nonprofit involved said.—
Violet Ikonomova,
Freep.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Newsom, who has four children under 18, said California has a responsibility to protect kids and teens who are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for everything from homework help to emotional support and personal advice.—
Trân Nguyễn,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
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But beyond that familiar advice, dietary guidance has long been vague and inconsistent.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Trump reportedly asked advisers in 2019 about a military invasion of Venezuela during a meeting about sanctions against Maduro.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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The Indiana Daily Student has over $400,000 to spend, but the former adviser of the paper said administrators hamstrung his ability to use those funds, worsening the newspaper's deficit spending.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.—
Abraham Rutchick,
The Conversation,
15 Oct. 2025
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Pre-arrival photo consults help estimate graft counts, map a design, and explain how prices range with case complexity.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Prince Andrew most notably will be giving up his title as the Duke of York, conferred on him by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, upon his 1986 wedding.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Most people who acquire type 1 diabetes have at least one of two specific-risk-conferring gene variants, or alleles, in this region.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Chiefs opened the third quarter at their own 19-yard line, but Mahomes guided the offense with chunk gains to five different pass-catchers during an eight-play touchdown drive that took less than four minutes.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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After three subsequent losing seasons from 2021-23, Tom Allen was replaced by coach Curt Cignetti, who immediately guided the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff and their first top-10 finish since 1967.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ellison has made a series of C-level hires since the deal closed, including Makan Delrahim, who advised Skydance on its acquisition of Paramount Global, as chief legal officer; former Meta exec Dane Glasgow as chief product officer; and Roku’s Jay Askinasi as chief revenue officer.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
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Experts still advise moderation—about 8 ounces a day—since too much can add unnecessary sugar to your diet.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Adam Weirib of Yanks Go Yard recently suggested the Yankees could look to swing a trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
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This could help explain why some research suggests that kombucha may not affect blood sugar as much as other drinks with similar sugar content.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsel. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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