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Glite Dictionary
to expostulate

to expostulate

1 9.7
To disagree strongly with someone to try to stop them
  • verb
  • /ɪkˈspɑːstʃʊleɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : expostular
  • "Oh, you and your Aristotle and your Krapp's English!" she expostulated bitterly.

Examples

  • Obama expostulated that America "can neither retreat from the world nor try to bully it into submission."

    Academic text (2011)

  • "Nonsense!" Caroline expostulated, but there was a distinct pinkness in her cheeks.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • I, for one, expostulate that Termina, the one game world, is actually older than Hyrule.

    Blog text (26)

  • She expostulated in the kindest terms, entreated him with all the arguments that undisguised love and the purest conjugal affection could suggest.

    Academic text (1998)

  • She expostulated at her friend for considering giving up on her dreams.

  • The teacher expostulated with the students about the importance of studying for their exams.

  • He often expostulated against the unfair practices in the workplace.

Synonyms

to persuade
vsto expostulate
472 2.7

To make someone agree or do something by giving reasons

adds clear disapproval and aims specifically to stop the action
to talk out of
vsto expostulate
120 4.0

Change someone's mind so they do not do something

is more formal and expresses deeper disapproval while persuading
to protest
vsto expostulate
93 2.8

To say firmly that you are not guilty

focuses on personal disagreement to persuade the person not to act
to speak out against
vsto expostulate
44 4.1

Publicly say you are strongly against something or someone

is more private and aimed at changing a person's decision rather than public protest
to dissuade
vsto expostulate
35 6.0

To try to stop someone from doing something by talking to them

focuses more on strong disagreement as well as trying to stop action
to admonish
vsto expostulate
31 6.8

To tell someone firmly to change or improve their behavior

targets disapproval at a choice and aims to stop a particular action
to speak against
vsto expostulate
15 4.2

To say in public that you do not support something

involves direct personal appeal to stop someone's action rather than broad criticism
to reprove
vsto expostulate
5 7.3

Tell someone gently that what they did was wrong

shows stronger objection and tries harder to prevent the act
to remonstrate
vsto expostulate
  • Formal
1 8.5

To speak strongly to show you disagree

is similar but more formal and less aimed at changing minds

Antonyms

to agree
∞ 1.0

Have the same opinion or say yes

to approve
∞ 1.6

To officially agree to something or think that it is good

How Disapproving

to protest
283 3.2
to remonstrate
  • Formal
1 8.5
to expostulate
  • Formal
1 9.7
to object
349 5.1
to complain
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

expostulate infinitive
expostulated past
expostulated past participle
expostulating present participle
expostulates third person singular

Morphology

expostulate = postulate (opaque) = ex + postulate

Although historically formed from ex- + postulate, the modern sense 'to express strong objection or remonstrate' is not predictable from 'postulate' ('to assume/suggest'), so learners will not reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word expostulate comes from the Latin parts ex- ('out' or 'from') and postulare ('to ask' or 'demand'), and is related to the English word postulate. So to expostulate is to 'ask strongly' or argue with someone to change their mind, which is why it means showing strong disagreement to try to persuade someone.