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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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 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

Remake includes footage of Adrian urging his father to consider Carr’s offer, and gently scolding him for having passed up certain opportunities to make money—money that would have made the family's life better—off his filmmaking acumen.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
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

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

He was internationally known as an expert on the work of William Faulkner, teaching and lecturing around the world on the Nobel Prize winner.

— Rebecca McCarthy, AJC.com, 13 July 2026
The film begins with a montage of young Roma women, each shot as though for a studio portrait, impassively absorbing an offscreen voice lecturing them about family planning.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 11 July 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

The Times has since issued a statement denouncing the subpoenas.

— Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026
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

Definition of denouncing

Verb

After the comments section was flooded with messages from Instagram users criticizing the timing of the post, Kim added an additional comment with an explanation.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
The standoff follows a broader White House campaign criticizing Smithsonian exhibitions and historical framing, while Secretary Lonnie G.

— George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of criticizing

Verb

The way the end of this match played out has commentators and social media going all out in blaming Thomas Tuchel for England’s loss.

— Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Masterson filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2010, blaming his financial predicament on a former employee’s errors.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026

Definition of blaming

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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 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of reproaching

verb

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