as in to object
to present an opposing opinion or argument
the concerned parents tried to expostulate with their daughter when she announced her intention to live on her own in New York City
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Recent Examples of expostulate
But her style, it is suggested (for what happened at those audiences was wholly confidential) was never to expostulate – merely to ask a leading question, or to drop a subtle hint.
—
Sarah Gristwood, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022
His humility does not work in his favor when promoting fights, and there is no hype man in Miocic’s corner expostulating his accolades.
—Justin Barrasso, SI.com, 14 Aug. 2019
Sarah Gristwood, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022
His humility does not work in his favor when promoting fights, and there is no hype man in Miocic’s corner expostulating his accolades.
—Justin Barrasso, SI.com, 14 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expostulate
Verb
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According to the memo, the oversight office formally objected three times in 2024 to disciplinary decisions made by the interim Police Department chief.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
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But when the rules changed in 2014, and more modern music began to be used in competition, some artists began to object to their work being used without the proper permission.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some administration and immigration officials have indicated that people who protest or observe their operations can be put on a watchlist.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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The sculpture had been put up earlier the same day by a group of veterans who were protesting ICE's ongoing presence in Minnesota.—
Riley Moser,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second-largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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Other conservatives have also complained about Bad Bunny performing in Spanish.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expostulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expostulate. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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