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
Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
This was a setup contemplated by former NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, who in 2021 issued a historic memo advocating for college athlete employment and unionization.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
To further understand why Ross wanted Aikman, understand how Ross appreciated the role former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers had in counseling Washington Commanders’ owner Josh Harris.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Noun
But after a six-month probe into Yoon's decree, investigators led by another independent counsel, Cho Eun-suk, in December downplayed conjecture that Kim's troubles drove Yoon to declare martial law.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
This was a setup contemplated by former NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, who in 2021 issued a historic memo advocating for college athlete employment and unionization.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
The two-story building will have offices, counseling rooms, meeting rooms, a childcare area and a chapel.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
To further understand why Ross wanted Aikman, understand how Ross appreciated the role former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers had in counseling Washington Commanders’ owner Josh Harris.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsel
Noun
-
The judge noted that the Supreme Court released guidelines last year for how lawyers use AI.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Each Gospel Justice Center – which is open one day a month for a few hours – revolves around volunteer lawyers and church members offering brief legal advice, guidance and prayer in a community setting.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
After three days of physical therapy and doctors’ advice, Vonn tried skiing on Tuesday.—
Andrew Dampf,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
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He was invited to offer advice to his successor and reflect on his return and the state of the company as the management baton pass unfolds.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Adam Mendelsohn, a communications adviser and former deputy chief of staff to Schwarzenegger as governor, said there’s an appetite in California for greater accountability under what is essentially single-party rule.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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Martin is an emergency physician and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, having previously served as an adviser in the Office of the Vice President under Kamala Harris and a White House Fellow in the White House Office of Public Engagement.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Andrea Katz 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.—
Andrea Katz,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
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The district’s usual procedure is to notify parents about school closures the day of before 5:30 a.m., once the superintendent checks road conditions across the district and consults with local emergency management officials and neighboring superintendents.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The festival also conferred a new kind of alt-movieland mystique on the buzzy negotiations of the film business.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has taken this tradition to its logical extreme by exempting from legal consequences his supporters and those following his instructions—seeming to assert his supremacy over not just federal but state laws, which exceeds even the wide powers conferred by the Constitution.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Beyond Bourla’s family history, the places his career has taken him have helped shape his leadership style—and guide his success.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Precise placement is possible using DNA origami, which folds DNA into nanoscale shapes to guide molecules into position.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Venezuelans in need of consular support in the US typically had to travel to a third country, like Canada or Mexico, with another acceptable form of documentation to get it; that’s even what the International Organization for Migration advised.—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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Instead, the plant expert advises only repotting when roots circling the pot become visible and/or when growth slows.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The committee suggested that some tour participants may have been examining security measures.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
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Using fresh data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft, researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science have produced the most precise measurements yet of the solar system’s largest planet, showing that Jupiter is slightly smaller and more flattened than earlier estimates suggested.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsel. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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