Definitions

admonish

[ad-mon-ish] / ædˈmɒn ɪʃ /

VERB

warn, strongly criticize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advise berate censure chide enjoin exhort rebuke reprimand scold upbraid warn

STRONG

check counsel ding forewarn glue growl hoist notice rap reprove

WEAK

call down call on the carpet come down hard on draw the line give a going over give a piece of one's mind jack up rap on knuckles sit on slap on wrist speak to talk to tell a thing or two tell off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow compliment flatter laud permit praise

WEAK

applaud approve commend extol

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ratepayers routinely admonish state utility regulators for their high bills at public meetings.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

Savage went on to empower our community to admonish naysayers of queer party-going, community enrichment, and quality time — however we choose to define those terms.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2025

But Mr Costello's testimony was contradicted by his own emails, and in an unusual and chaotic moment, a furious Justice Merchan cleared the courtroom so he could admonish Costello about his behaviour on the stand.

From BBC • May 30, 2024

Justice Juan Merchan had to admonish Trump for “cursing audibly” and “shaking his head visually.”

From Slate • May 11, 2024

Did he admonish himself for all of the disquiet he’d caused—all of the disputes over money and cameras and lighting?

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Vocabulary lists containing admonish

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"

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"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)

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