expostulation
1
9.9
- noun
- /ɛkˌspɑːstʃəˈleɪʃən/
- Formal
:
expostulación
- He seems to be all smoke and mirrors and never more untrustworthy than in his heartfelt expostulations.
But what about poems on fly leaves and margins, or sketches and doodles or expostulations?
- But what about poems on fly leaves and margins, or sketches and doodles or expostulations?
Examples
-
In her conditional expostulation, Moulsworth echoes the wife's later lines, which exclaim, "By God, if women had written stories / As clerkes has withinne hire oratories.
Fiction book (1996) -
The harried voice, now much louder and clearly female, burst into furious expostulation.
Fiction book (1991) -
From within came the sound of expostulation, followed by the thud of heavy footsteps.
Fiction book (1993) -
"Crothers's final expostulation was, "Heaven defend those whose characters are in our keeping!"
Academic text (2003) -
"I know," Charlotte said as soon as Gracie appeared and before she could begin her expostulations.
Fiction book (1990) -
Keats clearly alludes to King Lear in this expostulation of the human condition. #4.
Academic text (2016) -
She had that same look of accusatory intelligence, which she fixed on Douglas as she handed him the flowers and started into one of her usual expostulations, gesturing here and there as Douglas stood there with the flowers, his nose buried in the folds of the paper as he listened.
Fiction book (1993) -
I was only allowed to depart at last by Jamie's stating bluntly that we must go, then lifting me bodily off the couch and heading for the door, disregarding the expostulations of my hosts.
Fiction book (1991) -
The manager'sexpostulation about the new policy showed how much he disagreed with the changes.
-
During the meeting, theirexpostulation highlighted the team's concerns about the project's direction.
Synonyms
292
3.6
A statement showing disagreement or disapproval
73
6.6
A public or formal statement that shows disagreement with an idea
11
7.4
A strong statement that shows you disagree or say something is not true
1
9.8
A formal spoken or written complaint showing strong disagreement
1
7.7
A public statement that strongly criticizes someone or something
1
8.4
A strong disagreement about something important
1
9.5
A strong, formal protest that shows serious disagreement
1
9.9
A loud angry speech that attacks a person or idea
Antonyms
How Disapproving
283
3.2
- Formal
1
9.5
- Formal
1
9.9
292
3.6
564
1.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
expostulation = expostulate (semi-transparent) = expostulate + ion
The noun is a standard -ion nominalization of the verb 'expostulate'; the morphological step from verb to noun is regular and predictable.
Etymology
Expostulation comes from Latin parts ex- 'out' and postulare 'to ask' or 'demand', and it shares its root with postulate. That's why an expostulation is like speaking your objection out loud — a strong, reasoned protest or disagreement.