reprimand 1 of 2

reprimand

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reprimand contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reprimand are admonish, chide, rebuke, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

Where would admonish be a reasonable alternative to reprimand?

The synonyms admonish and reprimand are sometimes interchangeable, but admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When would rebuke be a good substitute for reprimand?

Although the words rebuke and reprimand have much in common, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

How do reproach and chide relate to one another, in the sense of reprimand?

Both reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

In what contexts can reprove take the place of reprimand?

The meanings of reprove and reprimand largely overlap; however, reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reprimand
Noun
The first-term council member deserves all the reprimands being heaped on her — most of all because the video that set off this pathetic episode is so cringe. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025 Levey Cohen, who also received a 10-day suspension, appeared before justices for the reprimand. News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025
Verb
The responding officer later reprimanded the woman for entering the vehicle to help the dog. Sydney Sasser july 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2025 Some judges are known to reprimand attorneys who miss deadlines and even sanction them. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for reprimand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprimand
Noun
  • Trump's decision to deploy the military drew sharp condemnation from Democrats across the country, who said the move raises civil-liberties concerns at a time when crime in D.C. is dropping.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The school, which is not affiliated with Lincoln County Schools, prompted community outrage and public condemnation from school leaders.
    Evan Moore August 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Some have also scolded Colossal for tinkering with genetics, but the tech firm insists its work will aid in the conservation and protection of endangered species.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
  • With the camel’s back broken, Dorothy Scott, summoning all her righteous indignation (and channeled with maybe one-third of Audra McDonald’s extraordinary talent, which is still enough to power the city of Manhattan), lets the snobby scold have it.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • When Souleymane rehearses his account, in an early scene, Barry admonishes him for blandly reciting (and often bungling) the false facts he’s been given.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The decision to reassign Woolfe, the paper’s classical music critic, came less than a year after Woolfe was publicly admonished for his criticism by the head of the New York Metropolitan Opera, where Kahn is a regular presence.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In 2023, Democrats rallied around Schiff when House Republicans voted to censure him.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • The statement marks a change in attitude given Greene’s previous vote to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian-American Democrat, for her criticism of Israel.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • Two hours later, she was heard lecturing the children.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025
  • The single most on-the-nose sequence — though there are many — has an unrestrained Christopher Lloyd as a Holocaust survivor conveniently situated to lecture young Clay about the genocidal reality of his experience.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Some residents blamed the city, which has owned these buildings for years, for allowing the structures to get run-down.
    Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 9 Aug. 2025
  • In a recent poll, 81% of Americans blame Trump for withholding the Epstein files from public scrutiny.
    Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Driven by spikes in incidents, especially since the pandemic, lawmakers are now playing catch up and introducing specific laws for abuse of workers to punish offenders.
    Jo Causon, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • In response, Mexico has passed legislation punishing unauthorized use of Indigenous cultural expressions with hefty fines and prison sentences.
    Isa Cardona, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Some social media users have criticized the department’s reverence for the 1940s, noting the period predated the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation, as well as other landmark legislation and Supreme Court decisions that were key to the civil rights era.
    Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Trump amps up his attacks on CEOs and other executives Trump has long used social media and his other public statements to cajole, criticize and praise companies and individual CEOs.
    Maria Aspan, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reprimand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprimand. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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