1
as in to admonish
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault
my piano teacher often reproves me for slouching while playing, observing that good posture helps one play better
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to censure
to express public or formal disapproval of
the principal reproved the hockey team for their display of poor sportsmanship on the ice and ordered that a letter of apology be sent to the other school
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dislike
to hold an unfavorable opinion of
the older generation has always reproved the younger generation's taste in music
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Recent Examples of reprove
Gallant reportedly meant to reprove the officer for failing to do enough about settler violence.
—
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024
Regional and international groups and leaders rallied behind Caracas, reproving the sanctions as illegitimate.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2015
If the Pets fail to reprove the demonization of Trump and Morrissey — disregarding hateful partisan fashion—their diminished integrity will be one of the consequences.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024
The son of immigrants — a hard-drinking father from Scotland and a reproving mother from Germany — Baird and his siblings grew up poor in Brooklyn, N.Y.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
Both films reprove today’s lack of soul-searching — that’s our real existential crisis.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Oct. 2023
In the early 2000s, Latter-day Saints were learning via social media about controversial elements of their faith’s past — including details about polygamy provided by the scholars, like Quinn, who were reproved by the church.
—Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
Her question drew reproving looks and boos from the crowd.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
Until Elliott reproves that, none of those three assumptions should drive Dallas’ game plan.
—Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2019
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024
Regional and international groups and leaders rallied behind Caracas, reproving the sanctions as illegitimate.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2015
If the Pets fail to reprove the demonization of Trump and Morrissey — disregarding hateful partisan fashion—their diminished integrity will be one of the consequences.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024
The son of immigrants — a hard-drinking father from Scotland and a reproving mother from Germany — Baird and his siblings grew up poor in Brooklyn, N.Y.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
Both films reprove today’s lack of soul-searching — that’s our real existential crisis.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Oct. 2023
In the early 2000s, Latter-day Saints were learning via social media about controversial elements of their faith’s past — including details about polygamy provided by the scholars, like Quinn, who were reproved by the church.
—Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
Her question drew reproving looks and boos from the crowd.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
Until Elliott reproves that, none of those three assumptions should drive Dallas’ game plan.
—Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprove
Verb
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The judge also admonished state officials for refusing to make the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol publicly available.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
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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
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
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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
Verb
-
In its court filing, Ben & Jerry's also accused Unilever of trying to stop it from issuing any public statement against Trump or releasing a Pecan Resist ice cream that was marketed to people who disliked Trump.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
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And some believe Tesla owners and cars shouldn’t be the target of those who dislike the company’s CEO.—
Stephanie Lam,
The Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The controversy is intensifying, with U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts having now publicly reprimanded the president after a social media post in which Trump called for the impeachment of Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. — the ...—
Andrew C. McCarthy,
National Review,
19 Mar. 2025
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At the time, the House of Representatives, with the Democrats holding the majority, voted to reprimand Wilson, who later issued an apology to Obama.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The rhetoric Trump used against him was so extreme, even the Justice Roberts condemned him!—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Immediately, a slew of over 400 A-list Hollywood power players condemned such an action.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In a 1907 essay, the writer Ito Sakon criticized the idea of escaping the hot urban summer, instead presenting the heat as an opportunity for self-improvement.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Democrats have criticized the governor in the past for taking longer to fill vacancies in Democratic-leaning districts that in those dominated by the GOP.—
Steven Lemongello,
Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Michelle Obama playfully scolded her husband, Barack Obama, on her new podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
-
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
Verb
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Counties with Republican executives were punished by receiving no vaccination site for months.—
Ryan Silverstein,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Reprove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprove. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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