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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counsel
Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
At the time, Hamilton served as legal counsel for DCF.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Adi Ignatius, Harvard Business Review, 27 Feb. 2026
Davis said having baseball games back at Pittman-Sullivan Park and naming one of the baseball fields after Miller would be a fitting legacy for the man who counseled youth to stay on the right path.
—Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Noun
The deputy general counsel and head of litigation for Energy Transfer, Sam Hardy, took the job in March 2022, about two years after the state court lawsuit was filed.
—Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
At the time, Hamilton served as legal counsel for DCF.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Bill George has spent decades counseling business leaders on how to be authentic.
—Adi Ignatius, Harvard Business Review, 27 Feb. 2026
Davis said having baseball games back at Pittman-Sullivan Park and naming one of the baseball fields after Miller would be a fitting legacy for the man who counseled youth to stay on the right path.
—Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsel
Noun
-
However, Michaud's lawyer and the prosecutor agreed to a summary of the facts in the case, according to the Banner.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The lawyer who represented Jon Hallford in state court, Adam Steigerwald, declined to comment on the abuse accusations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This is called lying, hardly advice to emulate.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With the passage of oil tankers and cargo ships all but halted in and around the strategically vital waterway, the price of food, transported using oil and diesel, is also expected to climb if the closure persists, according to Bob McNally, a former White House energy adviser.—
Cecilia Vega,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The Dallas Morning News, after reviewing the internal messages, reported last week that city officials and outside advisers discussed relocation scenarios and took a few council members on site tours that had not been publicly announced.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Aria Gastón-Panthaki does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.—
Andres Bustamante,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Daya has a private practice in Los Angeles and consults with athletes in a wide range of sports from youth to professional, as well as business leaders, doctors, and musicians.—
Daya Grant,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perry gave prosecutors until March 31 to make their redactions to the indictment and confer with the defense on other evidentiary issues.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
As part of that deal, unions and the state agreed to come back to the bargaining table to meet and confer over the rollout of the return-to-office directive.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
February 19 – March 20 Your presence guides today’s gentle pace.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
No one held her hand and guided her through the process.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These professionals are responsible for advising farms and agribusinesses on eco-friendly practices.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The agency advised Americans to travel by land to either Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, or Turkey, given that Iraqi airspace is closed at least until Monday.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fed officials are still penciling in one more cut by the end of 2026, but Chair Jerome Powell suggested those projections may be worth less than usual because of how much more uncertainty exists about inflation and the economy.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
These stones suggest the dinosaur was an opportunistic omnivore, snacking on everything from prehistoric ferns to crunchy insects and small animals.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsel. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
