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
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2
as in advisers
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counsels
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
Ray Dalio counsels holding amid bubble.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
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
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
Noun
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
Ray Dalio counsels holding amid bubble.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
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 a comparable case in the United States in 2023, a federal judge imposed $5,000 fines on two lawyers and a law firm after ChatGPT was blamed for their submission of fictitious legal research in an aviation injury claim.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The reactions of Idaho lawmakers, lawyers and gun-rights activists to the killing of a Minnesota protester run the gamut.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The initiative will include $40 million for incentives for heat pumps; no-cost home upgrades for lower-income households; advisers to help homeowners decide if heat pumps are right for them; and money for getting the word out about Power Ahead.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
26 Jan. 2026
-
For families with significant wealth, and the advisors who support them, the challenge isn’t generosity.—
Kris Putnam-Walkerly,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Irene, overwhelmed, joins her son’s therapy sessions, consults doctors and seeks help in traditional Chinese medicine at the local dispensary.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The footage from Minneapolis is disturbing, said Cathy Riggs, a retired Los Angeles police officer of more than 30 years who now consults on police use-of-force cases.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The company now guides 2026 capital expenditures, including finance leases, of roughly $115–$135 billion, placing it among the largest single-year capex spenders in the AI and hyperscaler universe.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
That same human centric values-first posture guides how Ingka evaluates partners.—
Keith Ferrazzi,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the end, the thieves did not steal his car, but Roy advises any other victim — let the thieves take it.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
When selecting a bird bath, only use a shallow dish that is no deeper than 3 inches, advises Mizejewski.—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The author suggests the current situation warrants similar action.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This lineage suggests potential for deployment on edge devices without requiring constant cloud connectivity.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Visitors can personalize Levi’s pieces with patches and chainstitching, or book one-on-one customization sessions with design consultants offering laser treatments, rhinestones, and screen printing.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, and, to a lesser extent, Kuwait have more capital and want to lure the same bankers, consultants, and investors.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That is the sole province of the president under our constitutional scheme, which confers extremely broad executive powers on the president, especially in foreign relations.—
Sandeep Gopalan,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2026
-
The plant’s namesake milky sap contains toxic chemicals that make the monarch butterflies themselves hazardous to predators — and confers some protection against OE.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counsels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsels. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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