1
as in to admonish
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault
my piano teacher often reproves me for slouching while playing, observing that good posture helps one play better
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to censure
to express public or formal disapproval of
the principal reproved the hockey team for their display of poor sportsmanship on the ice and ordered that a letter of apology be sent to the other school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dislike
to hold an unfavorable opinion of
the older generation has always reproved the younger generation's taste in music
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reprove
Gallant reportedly meant to reprove the officer for failing to do enough about settler violence.
—
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024
Regional and international groups and leaders rallied behind Caracas, reproving the sanctions as illegitimate.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2015
If the Pets fail to reprove the demonization of Trump and Morrissey — disregarding hateful partisan fashion—their diminished integrity will be one of the consequences.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024
The son of immigrants — a hard-drinking father from Scotland and a reproving mother from Germany — Baird and his siblings grew up poor in Brooklyn, N.Y.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
Both films reprove today’s lack of soul-searching — that’s our real existential crisis.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Oct. 2023
In the early 2000s, Latter-day Saints were learning via social media about controversial elements of their faith’s past — including details about polygamy provided by the scholars, like Quinn, who were reproved by the church.
—Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
Her question drew reproving looks and boos from the crowd.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
Until Elliott reproves that, none of those three assumptions should drive Dallas’ game plan.
—Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2019
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024
Regional and international groups and leaders rallied behind Caracas, reproving the sanctions as illegitimate.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2015
If the Pets fail to reprove the demonization of Trump and Morrissey — disregarding hateful partisan fashion—their diminished integrity will be one of the consequences.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024
The son of immigrants — a hard-drinking father from Scotland and a reproving mother from Germany — Baird and his siblings grew up poor in Brooklyn, N.Y.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
Both films reprove today’s lack of soul-searching — that’s our real existential crisis.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Oct. 2023
In the early 2000s, Latter-day Saints were learning via social media about controversial elements of their faith’s past — including details about polygamy provided by the scholars, like Quinn, who were reproved by the church.
—Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
Her question drew reproving looks and boos from the crowd.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
Until Elliott reproves that, none of those three assumptions should drive Dallas’ game plan.
—Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprove
Verb
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Rinehart has admonished Australians to be more like Trump and think bigger.—
Christopher Helman,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Lang, who is from Florida and is now running for U.S. Senate, was reportedly admonished by Jeff Metcalf over the phone during the rally.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The capture of Ballal was first publicized by Abraham, who later censured the Academy’s response to the attack, as the body refused to unequivocally denounce the violence.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2025
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There have been so many emerging women artists who just absolutely do not limit themselves or their self-expression, even when they get censured for it.—
Josh Zajdman,
Vogue,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The markets that day closed with losses after Trump attacked Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — something markets majorly dislike.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Fundamentally there is a misunderstanding — or at least dislike — for what Guardiola is trying to achieve in these final games.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And when no one was fired or even reprimanded for the FUBAR, the accountability Hegseth promised had seemingly gone AWOL.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Rourke was formally reprimanded by the show and ultimately booted from the house.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Trump didn’t exactly condemn the missile strikes on Kyiv, the country’s second largest city.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2025
-
On Friday, multiple freedom of the press organizations condemned the administration's latest move.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
She was criticized by some for her expensive timepiece and for using prisoners as production props.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Those signings by Guerin were, at the time, criticized as being premature.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Today's top stories President Trump scolded Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday after Russia launched a deadly strike on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
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That, in the end, is the heart of the spectacle of Noem’s militaristic videos and Leavitt’s scolding and lies.—
Constance Grady,
Vox,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Warriors don’t have enough isolation players who can punish Houston’s aggression.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
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Five current or former Iowa State football coaching staff members have been punished by the NCAA for sports gambling that included bets on the school's men's and women's basketball programs.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reprove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprove. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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