REPROACHING Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

reproaching

verb

present participle of reproach

as in scolding

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings our neighbor loudly reproached us for tromping through his yard

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as in admonishing

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

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as in censuring

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

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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 reproaching As expected, Carly didn’t take the bait, reproaching Z for referring to her daughter by her last name, spy style. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026 The pillow talk on Man’s Best Friend often takes the curt, assertive tone of a person reproaching a precocious pet. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reproaching

Verb

Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.

— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Justice Barrett actually sounded kind of sharp, almost scolding, in the opinion in her criticism of the assertions made by the plaintiffs and some of the justices in the minority.

— John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 1 July 2026

Definition of scolding

Verb

Regardless, this issue could have resolved if the Giants had issued a statement straight away either defending their players’ First Amendment right to express their views or admonishing them for violating the term of the CBA.

— Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
In the viral video after the shooting, neighbors can be heard angrily admonishing officers for killing the dog.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026

Definition of admonishing

Verb

As this memoir opens, Iran’s morality police stalk the university where Nafisi works, censuring her female students.

— The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Brown, the lone vote against Martinez’s item, said offering trainings to all councilmembers without mandating it for the mayor and not censuring him absolved Martinez of accountability.

— Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026

Definition of censuring

Verb

College professors spend less time lecturing than a typical sportswriter creating fake controversies to criticize.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
If and until that day comes, there will be fingerpointing, lecturing and posturing, all of which has flowed freely in the wake of the Sorsby decision.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 June 2026

Definition of lecturing

Verb

Her Volumnia bellows at her meek daughter-in-law, Virgilia (Justine Faith) as though reprimanding an incompetent private.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Earlier this week, Scott Agness claimed his press credentials were revoked by the team after his reporting led to the WNBA reprimanding the Fever for not being transparent about Clark’s health status during a game on May 20.

— Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026

Definition of reprimanding

Verb

During Democratic presidencies, which the DSA mostly spends denouncing the occupant of the Oval Office as a sellout, Democratic loyalists have less patience for factional complaints.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
The crisis that healthcare professionals on and off the island have been denouncing for years has mobilized nonprofit health organizations in Miami, which are preparing to act immediately in the event sociopolitical change comes to the island.

— Sarah Moreno July 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of denouncing

Verb

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had again been aggressively criticizing NATO for its lack of support over Iran and for failing to spend anywhere near enough money on its own security.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 10 July 2026
That didn't stop the public from criticizing the weekend congestion.

— Noe Padilla, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Definition of criticizing

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reproachfully

reproaching

reproachingly

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“Reproaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproaching. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of reproaching

verb

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