Synonyms of admonishing

admonishing 1 of 2

adjective

ad-ˈmä-ni-shiŋ 

as in warning

serving as or offering a warning

shot an admonishing glance at me just as I was about to spill the beans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• warning
• admonitory
• cautionary
• cautioning
• punitive
• monitory
• premonitory
• exemplary
• didactic
• moralistic
• advisory
• moralizing
• punishing
• counseling

admonishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of admonish

1

as in reprimanding

to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault

admonished her for littering

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reprimanding
• scolding
• criticizing
• blaming
• chiding
• rebuking
• reproving
• reproaching
• mocking
• faulting
• berating
• condemning
• upbraiding
• getting on
• lecturing
• getting after
• ticking off
• haranguing
• attacking
• castigating
• censuring
• lambasting
• denouncing
• crucifying
• excoriating
• knocking
• ridiculing
• assailing
• burning one's ears
• disparaging
• slamming
• jawing
• belittling
• minimizing
• flaying
• lashing
• deriding
• panning
• dressing down
• chewing out
• blasting
• abusing
• railing (at or against)
• bad-mouthing
• scoffing
• keelhauling
• scoring
• deprecating
• scorning
• rating
• reprehending
• dissing
• putting down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approving
• endorsing
• sanctioning
• praising
• applauding
• extolling
• saluting
• lauding
• hailing
• touting
• OK'ing

2

as in advising

to give advice to

my physician is always admonishing me to eat more healthy foods

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advising
• warning
• teaching
• telling
• informing
• encouraging
• convincing
• cautioning
• urging
• counseling
• adjuring
• coaching
• alerting
• guiding
• persuading
• instructing
• exhorting
• imploring
• begging
• shepherding
• briefing
• mentoring
• forewarning
• leading
• showing
• inducing
• suggesting
• steering
• recommending
• familiarizing
• filling in
• apprising
• directing
• talking (into)
• proposing
• tutoring
• acquainting
• piloting
• prevailing (upon)
• clueing (in)
• wising (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of admonishing

Adjective

Nevertheless, Waterbar received an admonishing phone call from team Drake. — Brock Keeling, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Oct. 2022

Rose protests the admonishing tone, confidently signaling that the French are no better than her. — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 May 2022

But articles also popped up admonishing parents for writing about their kids at all. — Heather Lanier, Longreads, 4 Mar. 2021

Verb

Davis was much more somber, and his attorney, Wayne Higgins, is heard frequently admonishing his client for volunteering unnecessary information. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Regardless, this issue could have resolved if the Giants had issued a statement straight away either defending their players’ First Amendment right to express their views or admonishing them for violating the term of the CBA. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

In the viral video after the shooting, neighbors can be heard angrily admonishing officers for killing the dog. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026

The other night Charles Barkley was admonishing people to stop wringing their hands about the Thunder being too physical with Wembanyama. — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026

Tisch lauded her officers for taking action while admonishing the dangers of violent crime. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026

The outlet reported that the mother of Jamieson’s child spoke out in court, admonishing him for the violent attack on their daughter last January. — Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026

These ridiculous charges led Swifties to bemoan the current political climate, admonishing left-leaning commentators for going overboard in their attempts to identify signs of cryptofascism in Swift’s work. — Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025

Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman and ESPN chief Jimmy Pitaro sent a note to staff Friday, thanking them for the work and continued focus, while admonishing YouTube and its parent company Google for the dispute. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025