reprimand 1 of 2

noun

ˈre-prə-ˌmand How to pronounce reprimand (audio)
Definition of reprimandnext
Enter your own sentence containing reprimand , and get words to replace it.
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as in condemnation
an often public or formal expression of disapproval while reviewing the troops, the officer delivered a curt reprimand to one of the soldiers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reprimand

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings reprimanded the summer intern for her constant tardiness

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2
as in to admonish
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault reprimanded the student for using the lax grammar and punctuation of text messaging in a term paper

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3
as in to censure
to express public or formal disapproval of the president was forced to reprimand the general for publicly voicing his disagreements with the nation's foreign policy

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reprimand contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reprimand are admonish, chide, rebuke, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

Where would admonish be a reasonable alternative to reprimand?

The synonyms admonish and reprimand are sometimes interchangeable, but admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When would rebuke be a good substitute for reprimand?

Although the words rebuke and reprimand have much in common, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

How do reproach and chide relate to one another, in the sense of reprimand?

Both reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

In what contexts can reprove take the place of reprimand?

The meanings of reprove and reprimand largely overlap; however, reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reprimand
Noun
The team released a statement explaining their reasoning behind the reprimand, which is the third Butler has received during the month of January alone. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 28 Jan. 2025 Why the Supreme Court chose censure The state Supreme Court could have imposed a harsher penalty, such as disbarment, or a lesser one, such as a private reprimand. — David Staats, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
Trump and Vance reprimanded Zelensky, accusing him of lacking gratitude for U.S. aid. — Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 In 2021, Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar was reprimanded for posting a violent anime video featuring Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and then-President Joe Biden. — Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reprimand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprimand
  1. condemnation
  2. scold
  3. admonish
  4. censure
  5. lecture
  6. blame
  7. punish
  8. criticize
Noun
  • Democrats in Congress appeared unified in their condemnation of the Oval Office meeting, viewing Trump and Vance's attacks on Zelenskyy as either aiding Putin or seeking to impress him.
    — Katya Soldak, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The massacres brought condemnations from the U.S. and Israel, while the European Union sought to retain a neutral stance.
    — Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of condemnation
Verb
  • According to Smith, James, who approached him in the third quarter during a timeout, scolded him for his commentary regarding his son and teammate, Bronny James.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Michelle Obama playfully scolded her husband, Barack Obama, on her new podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of scold
Verb
  • The judge also admonished state officials for refusing to make the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol publicly available.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • At the White House on Friday, Vance also admonished Zelenskyy for not expressing gratitude to the United States.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of admonish
Verb
  • Libby was censured by the state House of Representatives on Feb. 25 in a partisan 75-70 vote.
    — Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
  • When Republican state representative Laurel Libby brought this case to light, her colleagues voted to censure her, overstepping their bounds in the most un-American way possible.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of censure
Verb
  • Vance, who lectures U.S. allies about how to run their affairs, reminds us of every rich guy from suburban Pittsburgh who visits the Amalfi Coast in the summer, drives up the pedestrianized streets, and then complains that the pasta is too chewy and there’s no AC in his 15th-century villa.
    — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Obama himself had to lecture black men testily about the need to turn out for Harris, suggesting their reluctance was due to sexism, but Biden’s numbers with this demographic were worse.
    — W. James Antle III, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of lecture
Verb
  • The guidance came after several GOP lawmaker town halls went viral for protests and complaints about the Trump administration, which Republicans have blamed on Democratic activists.
    — Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza blamed the Israeli military, which denied targeting the compound.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of blame
Verb
  • Counties with Republican executives were punished by receiving no vaccination site for months.
    — Ryan Silverstein, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025
  • European leaders view the EU as an alliance focused on preventing wars after World War II, not punishing the United States, as Trump suggests.
    — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of punish
Verb
  • Musk has repeatedly criticized Social Security, one of the government's most popular programs, and DOGE staffers have been working inside the agency.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have sharply criticized the other Supreme Court judges for declining to hear a case called Alabama v. California.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of criticize

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Cite this Entry

“Reprimand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprimand. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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