Synonyms of counsels

counsels 1 of 2

noun

plural of counsel

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

• lawyers
• attorneys
• advocates
• counselors
• attorneys-at-law
• solicitors
• prosecutors
• counselors-at-law
• legal eagles
• district attorneys
• jurists
• legislators
• prosecuting attorneys
• trial lawyers
• lawmakers
• criminal lawyers
• lawgivers
• public defenders
• cocounsels
• solons
• mouthpieces
• ambulance chasers
• shysters
• Philadelphia lawyers
• pettifoggers

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

• advisers
• consultants
• counselors
• confidants
• experts
• professionals
• specialists
• consiglieri
• pros
• authorities
• kitchen cabinets
• cabinets
• sounding boards

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counselees

counsels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of counsel

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

• consults
• confers
• discusses
• advises
• talks
• treats
• argues
• parleys
• confabulates
• confabs
• deliberates
• coaches
• debates
• bandies
• ventilates
• guides
• disputes
• recommends
• hashes (over)
• moots
• talks over
• suggests
• rehashes
• bats (around)
• tutors
• palavers
• refers (to)
• chews over
• directs
• kicks around

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

• guides
• coaches
• teaches
• accompanies
• shows
• leads
• informs
• steers
• mentors
• tutors
• shepherds
• pilots
• walks through
• trains
• escorts
• engineers
• supervises
• directs
• instructs
• superintends
• schools
• sways
• attends
• oversees
• enlightens
• sees
• briefs
• convoys
• inculcates
• drills
• fosters
• indoctrinates
• chaperones
• godfathers
• squires
• nurtures
• cultivates

3

as in advises

to give advice to

perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advises
• warns
• teaches
• admonishes
• coaches
• informs
• convinces
• encourages
• tells
• adjures
• cautions
• urges
• guides
• persuades
• instructs
• briefs
• exhorts
• alerts
• clues (in)
• steers
• forewarns
• mentors
• implores
• leads
• recommends
• proposes
• directs
• induces
• pilots
• apprises
• suggests
• shepherds
• begs
• talks (into)
• acquaints
• fills in
• tutors
• shows
• familiarizes
• prevails (upon)
• wises (up)

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

• suggests
• recommends
• advises
• urges
• advocates
• proposes
• favors
• exhorts
• offers
• supports
• espouses
• champions
• submits
• backs
• advances

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of counsels

Noun

The new strategy memo counsels Republicans to give fresh warnings about the ways Democrats could take advantage of a Senate without the filibuster. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 29 July 2026

General counsels who cheered the CFPB’s retreat in 2025 are discovering that one predictable regulator was the cheap option. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Meanwhile, both candidate counsels were told they are allowed to contest any decisions made by the recount board but cannot interrupt the live count. — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 8 July 2026

Greenwald counsels women to practice finding the G-spot and stimulate the deep internal nerve fibres that remain robust. — Melanie Thernstrom, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Earlier this year, as his nomination and confirmation were playing out, the general counsels of the regional banks conferred over how easily reserve bank presidents could be removed by a majority vote of the Board of Governors, according to people familiar with the matter. — Jonnelle Marte, Fortune, 27 June 2026

Daniel keeps searching month upon month, unable to give up on his son, even as his father counsels against continuing what could be considered an obsession. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2026

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

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