EN

Synonyms for admonish

  • verb

Most common

rebuke reprimand chastise reprove warn caution reproof

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Rebuke — to inform or notify of a fault; to rebuke in a serious tone; to tell off

rebuke, chide formal, reprove, chastise, reprimand, scold, remonstrate, censure, condemn, harangue, lambast UK, lamblast US, charge, charre UK, reproach, fault, lecture, tick off, upbraid, rate, reprehend, objurgate, castigate, berate

2. Warn — to advise against wrongdoing; to caution; to warn against danger or an offense

warn, caution, exhort, advise, remind, enjoin, forewarn, counsel, prompt, tip

3. Dissuade

dissuade, discourage, monish dated

4. Notify — to instruct or direct

notify, inform

Other

reproof

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To inform or notify of a fault; to rebuke in a serious tone; to tell off.

  2. v. 2

    To advise against wrongdoing; to caution; to warn against danger or an offense.

  3. v. 3

    To instruct or direct.

Related words

Word family
admonishable admonisher admonishing admonishment admonition admonitory

Forms

Past participle
admonished
e.g. admonished → rebuked, chid, reproved, chastised…

Choose the right word

Admonish, Reproving, Censure, Rebuke, Reprove or Warn?

Admonish is the mildest of reproving words, and may even be used of giving a caution or warning where no wrong is implied, or of simply reminding of duty which might be forgotten. Censure, rebuke, and reprove apply to wrong that has been done; warn and admonish refer to anticipated error or fault.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • rebuke He took it for an implied rebuke.
  • reprimand The boss called Tatyana into his office to reprimand her.
  • chastise Be patient, God will chastise you and you'll understand!
  • warn I think Tom was trying to warn us about something.
  • caution The soldiers headed for the frontier with caution.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
admonishsteady
rebukerising
reprimandsteady
chastiserising
reproverising
warnrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
tip1
4 letters
rate1, warn1
5 letters
fault1, scold1, chide1
6 letters
charge1, remind2, inform2, advise2, prompt1, notify3, rebuke2, berate2, exhort2, enjoin2, monish, charre
7 letters
counsel2, lecture2, caution2, condemn2, censure2, reproof, reprove, lambast, upbraid2
8 letters
dissuade2, reproach2, chastise2, harangue2, forewarn2, lamblast
9 letters
reprimand3, castigate3, reprehend, objurgate
10 letters
discourage3
11 letters
remonstrate

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (remind2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
réprimander
Deutsch
maßregeln