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

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

Caitlin Clark gave support to fellow WNBA star Napheesa Collier, who had referenced Clark when admonishing the league and commissioner Cathy Engelbert in fiery remarks earlier this week. — Jill Martin, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025