reproach 1 of 2

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as in disgrace
a cause of shame your public display of boorish behavior is a reproach to this entire school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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reproach

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reproach contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reproach are admonish, chide, rebuke, reprimand, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," 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 admonish take the place of reproach?

While the synonyms admonish and reproach are close in meaning, admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When can rebuke be used instead of reproach?

The words rebuke and reproach are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

When could reprimand be used to replace reproach?

Although the words reprimand and reproach have much in common, reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

Where would reprove be a reasonable alternative to reproach?

In some situations, the words reprove and reproach are roughly equivalent. 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 reproach
Noun
Tiger Woods Video Explaining Scottie Scheffler's Greatness Scottie Scheffler Reveals What Separates Him From PGA Championship Field Then there is obviously a host of others that are currently above reproach. Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 And maybe there’s some regret and some reproach for other people or for an earlier version of yourself. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
The woman eventually jumps back to the other side of the baggage conveyor belt but continued to reproach employees. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2024 Year after year, my parents reproached me on the way to and from parent-teacher conferences. Zameena Mejia, refinery29.com, 22 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for reproach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reproach
Noun
  • Cohn died a disgrace, disbarred by the New York State Bar for unethical conduct after attempting to defraud a dying client by forcing him to sign a will amendment leaving Cohn his fortune.
    Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
  • At the same time, Bradley grapples with the disgrace of her Season 3 actions (hiding her brother’s role in the January 6 insurrection) while investigating a chemical plant leak covered up by UBA, enlisting Chip (Mark Duplass) to help her.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Israeli attacks have been met with condemnation from Lebanese leadership, which now includes two critics of Hezbollah, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
  • This is not a condemnation; there are bad brains and there are good navels.
    Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Still, after whupping the White Sox 10-4 on Thursday night, Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger asserted that there's no shame in padding the record against low-quality competition, which is objectively true.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
  • How this fits into the picture These gaps around AI readiness and varying levels of AI shame fit into an emerging picture of a confusing, if not chaotic, implementation of AI in the workplace, from the entry level all the way to the C-suite.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • At dinner, while the new wife served beef Stroganoff or lemon Jell-O with mandarin oranges, my father would scold me about my new friends and my falling grades.
    Richard Siken August 26, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Halfway through his sentence, the president stopped to scold the disrupter.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Plaza was later reprimanded by showrunner Michael Schur for taking the notes.
    Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Aenlle-Rocha, who was born in Cuba, said immigrants, more than most, cherish America’s democracy, and reprimanded her for abusing democracy for her own gain.
    Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In the first year of the genocide, I was censured and censored on campus.
    Sahar Mustafah August 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The inscriptions also reference El, a deity associated with the Abrahamic God, while censuring the ancient pagan goddess Ba`alat.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Anti-immigration sentiment has flared up following the murder of a 17-year-old girl named Lisa in Amsterdam, a national scandal that has fomented anxiety and anger in a country known for its generous immigration policies.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Once again, the current mix of corruption scandals and financial tensions definitely fit into this scenario.
    Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • He was found to be in contempt of court for failing to comply with that judgement in January.
    Chandelis Duster, NPR, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Despite this, the court entered another order compelling Brooksby, his trust, KFE, Sonja Brooksby and Rex King (as persons who controlled KFE) to appear and show cause why they should not be held in contempt.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reproach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproach. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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