1
as in admonishing
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault
my piano teacher often reproves me for slouching while playing, observing that good posture helps one play better
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reprimanding
to express public or formal disapproval of
the principal reproved the hockey team for their display of poor sportsmanship on the ice and ordered that a letter of apology be sent to the other school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disliking
to hold an unfavorable opinion of
the older generation has always reproved the younger generation's taste in music
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reproving
Verb
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Parliament Vice President Nicolae Ștefănuță quickly intervened, admonishing the lawmaker for his language and warning of consequences.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026 -
The outlet reported that the mother of Jamieson’s child spoke out in court, admonishing him for the violent attack on their daughter last January.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
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Censures, a means of formally reprimanding a lawmaker without going so far as to expel them, have historically been rare; in the 200 years after Congress first convened, only 22 House members were censured.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While the fans are always squabbling, the idea of two teams of professional athletes, not to mention coaches, actually disliking each other has become rarer.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
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He is also known for disliking repeats of his shows being played too often – another potential reason why Phoenix Nights remains hard to track down despite its enduring popularity.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Crucially, the film avoids the trap of scolding younger generations or romanticizing the past.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
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Sanders, by now a perennial candidate, perfected his craggy, scolding, mitten-waving style.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Those choices included censuring and sanctioning me, a military veteran commissioned through CU Boulder, the only Black Regent, and the first Black woman to serve on the board in 43 years.—
Wanda James,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In multiple phone calls from jail, Nathan Gingles discussed the dependency court case, asking his friend in Texas to pass along information and criticizing Mary’s sister, who was fighting for custody against Schuler.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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Both companies have also gotten more vocal in public in recent weeks, with executives openly criticizing each other's businesses.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Human Artistry Campaign, which counts the likes of SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America among its members, has joined the Motion Picture Association in condemning the AI model released by ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant that owns TikTok.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
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In an internal memo last year, Prasad wrote that the streamlined method would no longer be permitted – leading more than a dozen former FDA commissioners to pen an editorial condemning the statements.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In Gingles’ apartment, investigators found a letter from the DMV in Texas, dated less than two weeks before the murders, rejecting an application for a Texas certificate of title for a vehicle.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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Even Republican districts are rejecting the rapid buildout of ICE detention facilities in their communities.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Reproving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reproving. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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