1
as in disgrace
a cause of shame
your public display of boorish behavior is a reproach to this entire school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in condemnation
an often public or formal expression of disapproval
a letter of reproach was added to her dossier
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shame
the state of having lost the esteem of others
nothing the traitor did in later life lessened the reproach in which he was universally held
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
our neighbor loudly reproached us for tromping through his yard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reprimand
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault
she cleared her throat as a way of reproaching us for having our elbows on the table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to censure
to express public or formal disapproval of
the governor reproached the legislature for failing to pass the budget on time and once again throwing the state into fiscal chaos
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reproach
Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Hearing it might irritate parents or teachers, but that irritation has no cause and therefore merits no reproach.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
We are reproached for being too thin or too plump, for eating too little or too much.
—Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 12 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for reproach
Noun
On the other, the insistence that Kelly is a hero beyond reproach and that the administration’s response is villainy.
—Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Hearing it might irritate parents or teachers, but that irritation has no cause and therefore merits no reproach.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
While some online trolls criticized the actress' appearance, other observers rushed to her defense, calling out the comments' lecherous and misogynistic overtones and reproaching the invasion of privacy represented by the photos themselves.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
We are reproached for being too thin or too plump, for eating too little or too much.
—Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 12 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for reproach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reproach
Noun
-
What a disgrace not to plan better.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Despite some high-profile falls into disgrace, India’s spiritual leaders are widely revered.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The immigration crackdown and shootings drew widespread condemnation and calls for federal authorities to leave.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Nobody would have been surprised to hear Bad Bunny use one of the year’s biggest stages to levy direct condemnation of the administration’s dehumanizing bigotry.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
What’s stranger than this request even is how it’s demanded without shame (or how Anna uses this to score points in her bid to win Jack over for herself).—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The woman's eyes were filled with shame.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the Sentinel’s Cristobal Reyes has reported, federal judges based in Orlando have scolded prosecutors multiple times in recent weeks for detaining people who should have been set free, with one judge memorably comparing the current actions of ICE to those of a third-world country.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Young kids paddled near the shallow edges and bigger kids jumped off the cliffs above the swimming hole, causing the adults to gasp and scold.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Several told the Herald they were reprimanded for speaking to the media to promote the cultural events being hosted by the center.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Following the meeting, Green was reprimanded by a captain for failing to review the video with the officers.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has censured Kelly for participating in the video and is trying to retroactively demote Kelly from his retired rank of captain.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Advertisement Last month, Arizona’s Kelly sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense for taking administrative actions to demote and censure him over the video.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The scandal dates to 2013, when a new DWP billing system issued erroneous bills to thousands of customers, including a Van Nuys couple billed nearly $52,000.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The state has intervened in districts for reasons such as fiscal mismanagement, cheating scandals and consistently failing academic performance at a campus.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The full House was on the verge of voting on the contempt resolution, which was expected to pass with bipartisan support, when the Clintons agreed to the committee's terms to appear.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In accordance with the film’s main theme of toxic white colonialism, Kennedy treats Philomac with contempt but shows a weird fealty to Casey.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reproach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproach. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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