admonished

[ad-mon-isht] / ædˈmɒn ɪʃt /

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.

An hour after police arrived, the watch commander admonished officers for failing that job.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

After some staffers complained, Dokoupil was admonished by CBS News leadership on an editorial call that the Free Press posted online.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge was admonished after entering other judges’ chambers and going through their papers and computers, according to a state commission.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025

"Don't ever say what you said," he admonished reporters.

From Salon • May 28, 2025

No one cared what he did any longer, no whistle woke him, no telescreen admonished him.

From "1984" by George Orwell