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to admonish

to admonish

31 6.8
To tell someone firmly to change or improve their behavior
  • verb
  • /ədˈmɒnɪʃ/
translation icon : amonestar
  • The teacher decided to admonish the students for talking during the lecture.
  • parents admonished
  • admonished people

So he he's going to say it's for the priest to admonish the people in peace what they ought to do.

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Examples

  • For millennia, physicians have been admonished to "comfort, always" and "first, do no harm," or primum non nocere.

    Academic text (2000)
  • For God's sake, watch where you're going," Jo Lynn admonished with a sly smile.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • And I want to admonish each of you knowing that despite with the press, Sir, this is for emergency use.

  • So l admonish each of you to search your hearts to see if God has elected you.

  • Because Mr. Morris will surely telephone his mother and admonish her in front of the class.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I admonish those here to view testimony today to keep order... or this chamber will be cleared.

  • To my horror, I caught myself admonishing her with my mother's words.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • "You've lost ten pounds," an older neighbor admonished, then looked me up and down.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The jury is admonished to disregard defence counsel's argument before the court.

  • All persons having business with the Honorable, the Supreme Court of the United States are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting.

Synonyms

to warn
vsto admonish
1.0

Tell someone about possible danger so they can be careful

is specifically a firm instruction to change behavior rather than notice danger
to teach someone a lesson
vsto admonish
  • Informal
139 4.2

Punish someone so they learn not to do it again

is mainly a firm warning aimed at improving behavior without punishment
to caution
vsto admonish
92 3.0

To warn someone about danger or problems

is a firm social or moral rebuke telling someone to change behavior
to correct
vsto admonish
65 7.7

To scold or punish someone to improve their behavior

focuses on firm verbal warning to prompt improvement not punishment
to reprove
vsto admonish
5 7.3

Tell someone gently that what they did was wrong

is firmer and focuses on making behavior change
to read the riot act
vsto admonish
  • Informal
1 7.9

To scold someone strongly and warn them of punishment

is firm but less theatrical and not always threatening consequences
to monish
vsto admonish
  • Archaic
9.9

To warn or advise someone about their behaviour

is firmer and tells someone to change or improve behavior

Antonyms

331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

325 2.1

Help something grow or develop

How Stern

to reprimand
  • Formal
33 6.1
to scold
55 2.2
to admonish
31 6.8
to warn
1.0
to advise
414 2.2
to suggest
1.6

Surface Forms

admonish infinitive
admonished past
admonished past participle
admonishing present participle
admonishes third person singular

Etymology

Admonish comes from Latin parts ad- 'to' and monere 'to warn', and it is related to monitor. So to admonish someone is to give a careful warning or firmly tell them to change their behavior.