Synonyms of admonish

admonish 1 of 3

verb (1)

ad-ˈmä-nish 

1

as in to reprimand

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

admonished her for littering

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reprimand
• scold
• criticize
• blame
• chide
• reprove
• rebuke
• fault
• get on
• reproach
• get after
• condemn
• berate
• upbraid
• mock
• tick off
• castigate
• excoriate
• harangue
• censure
• crucify
• lambaste
• denounce
• disparage
• assail
• rail (at or against)
• minimize
• lecture
• burn one's ears
• reprehend
• flay
• belittle
• attack
• knock
• chew out
• jaw
• deride
• dress down
• bad-mouth
• ridicule
• lash
• deprecate
• keelhaul
• scoff
• slam
• pan
• rate
• abuse
• scorn
• score
• blast
• dis
• put down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• endorse
• sanction
• OK
• applaud
• salute
• praise
• extol
• hail
• laud
• tout

2

as in to advise

to give advice to

my physician is always admonishing me to eat more healthy foods

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advise
• warn
• teach
• tell
• convince
• encourage
• counsel
• inform
• adjure
• urge
• persuade
• caution
• alert
• instruct
• guide
• coach
• forewarn
• beg
• mentor
• clue (in)
• exhort
• steer
• wise (up)
• induce
• recommend
• fill in
• suggest
• implore
• familiarize
• apprise
• talk (into)
• lead
• propose
• acquaint
• show
• prevail (upon)
• brief
• shepherd
• pilot
• direct
• tutor

admonishing

2 of 3

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

3 of 3

verb (2)

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)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb admonish contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of admonish are chide, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

Where would rebuke be a reasonable alternative to admonish?

The words rebuke and admonish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

When is it sensible to use reprimand instead of admonish?

While in some cases nearly identical to admonish, reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

How are the words reproach and chide related as synonyms of admonish?

Both reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness

chided by their mother for untidiness

When is reprove a more appropriate choice than admonish?

The words reprove and admonish can be used in similar contexts, but reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of admonish

Verb

Police Chief Bret Cottrell wrote a letter that same day to the sergeant admonishing his actions, according to the suit. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Jeannine Pratt directly addressed Flynn, admonishing him for the selfish actions that shattered his daughters’ lives and their innocence. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2026

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

Verb

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Jeannine Pratt directly addressed Flynn, admonishing him for the selfish actions that shattered his daughters’ lives and their innocence. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 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

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