COUNSELS Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

counsels 1 of 2

noun

plural of counsel

as in lawyers

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

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Relevance

as in advisers

a person who gives advice especially professionally the toy manufacturer hired a public relations counsel to do some damage control

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

counselees

counsels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of counsel

as in consults

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

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as in guides

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

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as in advises

to give advice to perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you

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as in suggests

to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action I would counsel caution and deliberation in this sensitive matter

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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 counsels

Noun

Under Florida law, anyone who aids, abets or counsels someone in the commission of a crime may be considered a principal in the first degree. —

Julia Shapero, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026 Email seeking comment were sent to the counsels of record for Westmed Medical Group. —

Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026 During the hearing, Ethics Committee counsels will present evidence that comes from the panel’s yearslong investigation into Cherfilus-McCormick, which was released in January. —

Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026 For fintech executives and general counsels, these developments signal a pivotal shift. —

Aj Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026 After taking office, Lee appointed three independent counsels to look into allegations involving Yoon, his wife and associates. —

Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026 Sitting alongside our lawyers in our counsels, defending the state of Texas and having to put my name out there in defense of the state. —

Jack Fink, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025 Tess wants to keep certain parts of the past secret from him—that way, Marjorie won’t relearn them—but Jon counsels candor. —

Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025 At its core, the dispute will help determine how much authority special counsels have, how transparent the Justice Department must be in politically sensitive investigations, and whether a sitting president can use the courts to keep findings about his own conduct from public view. —

Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Verb

Redberg, for example, counsels older patients about diet, exercise and weight loss but does not urge them to start medication to reduce a 135 systolic reading to below 120. —

The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 De-stress on the daily Whether we're being sapped by parenting decisions, job hunting, health troubles or world weariness, many of us could use a charge to our internal battery, says clinical psychologist Enmanuel Mercedes, who counsels many (often exhausted) parents. —

Andee Tagle, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026 Oliver counsels Evan that Bree is very frightened and craves stability. —

Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026 Shaziah Singh counsels public and private strategic buyers on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and debt transactions, and corporate matters. —

Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 6 Feb. 2026 Nicolas Thompson-Lleras, a Los Angeles attorney who counsels immigrants facing deportation, said two of his clients were registered under aliases at different hospitals in Los Angeles County last year. —

Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026 Another letter by the Colorado County Clerks Association counsels the same. —

Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025 Licensed therapist Allison Guilbault, who counsels Gen Z clients in New York City, said splitting tabs, sharing Ubers and buying their own drinks has also become the standard. —

Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025 Kelsey’s group has facilitated 234 face-to-face surrenders through its hotline, which counsels women who might want to surrender their babies, but just about 62 babies have been left in boxes since Kelsey started the organization, according to Kelly, the nurse and company representative. —

Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsels

Noun

In López’s city of Tocoa, environmental defenders fighting the mining project have been getting picked off for years and eight activists were imprisoned for more than two years in what lawyers said was retaliation for their work.

— Marlon González, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
After complaints from families and detainees about limited access to attorneys, another lawsuit recently resulted in a ruling that detainees must be given better access to their lawyers, as well as confidential, unmonitored outgoing phone calls.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 May 2026