ad·mon·ish ( d-m n sh)tr.v. ad·mon·ished, ad·mon·ish·ing, ad·mon·ish·es 1. To reprove gently but earnestly. 2. To counsel (another) against something to be avoided; caution. 3. To remind of something forgotten or disregarded, as an obligation or a responsibility.
[Middle English amonishen, admonishen, alteration of amonesten, from Old French amonester, admonester, from Vulgar Latin *admonest re, from Latin admon re : ad-, ad- + mon re, to warn; see men-1 in Indo-European roots.]
ad·mon ish·er n. ad·mon ish·ing·ly adv. ad·mon ish·ment n. Synonyms: admonish, reprove, rebuke, reprimand, reproach These verbs mean to correct or caution critically. Admonish implies the giving of advice or a warning in order to rectify or avoid something: "A gallows erected on an eminence admonished the offenders of the fate that awaited them" William Hickling Prescott. Reprove usually suggests gentle criticism and constructive intent: With a quick look, the teacher reproved the child for whispering in class. Rebuke and reprimand both refer to sharp, often angry criticism: "Some of the most heated criticism . . . has come from the Justice Department, which rarely rebukes other agencies in public" Howard Kurtz. "A committee at [the university] asked its president to reprimand a scientist who tested gene-altered bacteria on trees" New York Times. Reproach usually refers to regretful or unhappy criticism arising from a sense of disappointment: "Every other author may aspire to praise; the lexicographer can only hope to escape reproach" Samuel Johnson. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | admonisher - someone who gives a warning so that a mistake can be avoided |