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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counsels
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 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
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
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
Noun
Email seeking comment were sent to the counsels of record for Westmed Medical Group.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 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
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
Verb
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
-
Prosecutors and defense lawyers said Schulz's trial is unlikely to be held before 2027.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
State lawyers said the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, where the detention center was built last year in a matter of days, is subject to state rules and can be used for whatever the state considers necessary.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With the board silent, Altman’s advisers built a public case for his return.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
While counting the president’s fallacies has become routine, the ideological subservience of his senior-most cabinet members and advisors this term has given the public reason to second-guess statements and data issued by them or their offices.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bumgarner confirmed there is no current partnership between the humane society and United Way, but that United Way frequently consults with organizations in distress.—
Amber Gaudet,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Before every visit, my mom always consults me for packing tips on what to wear.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Each move is supported by a dedicated specialist who guides the customer from initial inquiry through move day completion, ensuring clarity at every stage.—
NIa Bowers,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Chef Mickey Knutson guides participants through menus such as Market Vegetable Forward (April 14) and Elevated Pub Grub (May 12), each one welcoming students with a seasonal cocktail.—
Nicole Schnitzler,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To escape a sinking car, the agency advises drivers to stay calm, unbuckle seat belts, roll down or break a window, and get out before the car fills with water.—
Neal Riley,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
If bitten, Dowd advises snake bite victims to remain calm, limit movement to slow the spread of venom and call 911 immediately.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The stateside Prime Video boss also expressed his conviction that the Super Bowl will eventually secure an exclusive berth on his company’s streaming platform, which suggests that Marine has read his John Maynard Keynes.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
But a new government report suggests law enforcement efforts by the Department of Justice lag far behind the scope of the problem.—
Sarah Todd,
STAT,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And neither do campaign consultants.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In September 2025, consultants met with eight groups — a total of 29 residents, architects and developers — who agreed that the town’s objective design standards do not address different building types and configurations.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Far from being a sign of dotage, scientists concurred, music practice in old age confers all kinds of cognitive benefits.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Even a small amount of weight loss, as little as 5 percent, confers some health benefits, such as lower cholesterol—and these can add up to broad improvements in public health, says Giles Yeo, an obesity geneticist at the University of Cambridge, who was not involved in the study.—
Lori Youmshajekian,
Scientific American,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counsels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsels. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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