Skip to main content
reprovingly

reprovingly

1 7.4
In a way that shows you are not pleased with someone
  • adverb
  • /rɪˈpruvɪŋli/
translation icon : reprobatoriamente
  • "You're very naughty," the smith said reprovingly.
  • said reprovingly
  • looked at her reprovingly
  • shook his head reprovingly

Examples

  • "Language, Victoria," Elena said reprovingly.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "Christina," he would say reprovingly.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "I saw you last night," he said reprovingly.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The mothers looked at her reprovingly.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "Which does not stop you from doing so, Mother," Agnes said reprovingly.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • "You should have called in before," said Flint, reprovingly.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She remembered us and added reprovingly, "And what about his poor children?"

    Fiction book (1993)
  • He shook his head reprovingly at the boy.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • "You shouldn't have left without telling me," she said reprovingly.

  • "He forgot to submit his report again," she remarked reprovingly.

Synonyms

unfavorably
vsreprovingly
  • US
6 5.3

In a way that shows disapproval

is more directly aimed at a person's actions or behavior
disapprovingly
vsreprovingly
3 3.9

In a way that shows you do not agree with or like something

is similar but often implies a corrective tone rather than mere lack
reproachfully
vsreprovingly
1 6.6

In a way that shows blame or unhappiness

is more neutral, focusing on general disapproval not personal hurt
pejoratively
vsreprovingly
1 8.1

In a way that says something is bad

is disapproving without necessarily using insulting language
scathingly
vsreprovingly
1 7.9

Saying something in a very harsh and critical way

is critical too but avoids the same harsh, damaging tone
chidingly
vsreprovingly
1 7.6

In a gentle, slightly scolding way

is firmer and less gentle in its criticism
rebukingly
vsreprovingly
8.1

In a way that shows you are not pleased with someone

is milder and focuses on showing disapproval rather than correction
scoldingly
vsreprovingly
6.4

To say things in an angry way to show you are unhappy with someone

is less angry and more about showing disapproval quietly
condemningly
vsreprovingly
7.4

In a way that shows strong disapproval

is strong but usually less absolute and less public
deprecatively
vsreprovingly
8.0

In a way that shows disapproval or criticism

is more focused on disapproval of actions than subtle objection

Antonyms

7 3.4

In a way that shows approval

How Disapproving

harshly
49 3.5
sternly
16 3.9
reprovingly
1 7.4
critically
106 4.4

Surface Forms

reprovingly positive

Morphology

reprovingly = reproving (transparent) = reprove + ing + ly

The adverb is formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'reproving', yielding a straightforward manner adverb.

Etymology

The word reprovingly comes from the parts re- and probare, which means 'to test' or 'to prove' and is the same root as prove and proof. Because it once meant to show that something fails the test, to reprove is to show disapproval, so reprovingly means 'in a disapproving way'.