1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in consultants
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
1
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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2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in advises
to give advice to
perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you
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4
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
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Recent Examples of counsels
Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Kristina Conti, one of the counsels of the victims, said in a press conference at The Hague on Monday that requests for Duterte’s interim release should be denied, since the Duterte family remains powerful in the Philippines and has access to a wealth of resources.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Board members, for their part, will be able to question both parties, their legal counsels and any witnesses who participate at any time during the hearing.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
The Office of Special Counsel is a separate entity from the special counsels appointed by the Justice Department.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
One letter, signed by close to 50 cybersecurity professionals, warned of the chilling effect the verdict would have on decision making by CISOs and the balance of responsibility with general counsels, CEOs, and other members of the C-suite.
—Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Harder, Martin counsels, demonstrating proper technique.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Radford, Seidule said, would be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, under which the military has its own judges and prosecuting counsels.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
Moody has been dedicating her practice to helping clients navigate the AI space and counsels nearly a dozen generative voice and audio AI companies.
—Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Kristina Conti, one of the counsels of the victims, said in a press conference at The Hague on Monday that requests for Duterte’s interim release should be denied, since the Duterte family remains powerful in the Philippines and has access to a wealth of resources.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Board members, for their part, will be able to question both parties, their legal counsels and any witnesses who participate at any time during the hearing.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
The Office of Special Counsel is a separate entity from the special counsels appointed by the Justice Department.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
One letter, signed by close to 50 cybersecurity professionals, warned of the chilling effect the verdict would have on decision making by CISOs and the balance of responsibility with general counsels, CEOs, and other members of the C-suite.
—Heather Wishart-Smith, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Harder, Martin counsels, demonstrating proper technique.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Radford, Seidule said, would be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, under which the military has its own judges and prosecuting counsels.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsels
Noun
-
Combs' lawyers had previously filed a motion asking Subramanian to either overturn his criminal conviction on the transportation to engage in prostitution charges, or alternatively, grant him a new trial.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In March 2024, Delirium TV scored a legal victory when Poche and her lawyers were denied a request to avoid arbitration in the lawsuit, according to a press release from the production company.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Contractors and consultants who rely on government spending will have to decide how to fund their work.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Of the $7 million ARI spent on subcontractors and consultants on these projects, 40% went to Purdue Research Foundation and NineTwelve, both led by Chad Pittman.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Elevate, which consults widely across pro and college sports, said the vehicle was fully funded by private equity firm Velocity Capital Management and the Texas Permanent School Fund (TPSF), a special-purpose government corporation that oversees a nearly $60 billion public school endowment.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The logic puzzles seemed tailor-made for someone like Morgan, a high-IQ intellectual who consults with the police and notices things others miss.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That personal instinct is what guides me far more than any formula.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The Antideficiency Act, first passed in 1870, forbids the federal government from spending money not appropriated by Congress, and guides much of what the federal government can and can’t do during a shutdown.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In case that wasn't enough of a wink from the show's creators, there's a scene in the finale where the head nurse at the institution holding Gein advises him to write a book, noting that so many other people have taken liberties with his story.—
JR Radcliffe,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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What Else to Consider Despite their benefits, Alsing advises considering the cost and overall nutritional value.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump hasn't carried Virginia in any of his three runs for the presidency, which suggests an advantage for Democrats, said Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, who represents naval-heavy areas including Portsmouth and Norfolk.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Nothing on tape at this point suggests that run is imminent.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Breakeven age is only a guideline, advisors said.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
On April 29, 2024, as these tactical debates were playing out within the prosecutor’s office, Khan’s accuser burst into tears in front of a female colleague, and did so again, later that day, in the office of one of Khan’s senior advisers.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Trump could also try to invoke Section 301, which confers powers to combat unfair trade practices, or Section 232, which applies to national security situations.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Over time, the population accumulates mutations and sometimes one of them confers an advantage to the species.—
D. Scott Schmid,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counsels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsels. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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