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
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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
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
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
Regional and international groups and leaders rallied behind Caracas, reproving the sanctions as illegitimate.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprove
Verb
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During the meeting, Mayor Jim Jarratt repeatedly admonished speakers to stay on the topic of annexation.—
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On Tuesday, Judge Gregory Stuart Parker, the Taylor County circuit judge appointed to oversee the disciplinary case, recommended that Uhlfelder be admonished and required him to complete an ethics class.—
Verb
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Recently, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth censured Kelly, aiming to reduce his rank and its commensurate pension.—
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Instead, Hegseth censured Kelly, and prepared to demote Kelly, which would affect his pension.—
Verb
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Conversely, if moderates – disliked by the base but much more electable nationally – win, then Democrats stand to avoid a 1994-style blowout, and may even be set up for a 1996-style victory.—
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The treatment offers more flexibility and an alternative for those who dislike needles used in injectable medication.—
Verb
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Performers have been reprimanded for making racist, sexist and homophobic jokes during shows in the late 1990s and 2000s, according to Westword, and Stock Show officials were quick to apologize.—
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His popularity in other corners was evident in an October appearance on The View, in which cohost Whoopi Goldberg had to reprimand the audience for shouting out too many supportive exclamations.—
Verb
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Most lawmakers who condemned the incident did not call it a murder in their public statements.—
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The United States should be condemned by the international community and all peoples of this earth.—
Verb
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House Democrats swiftly criticized the Senate.—
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Bibelheimer also had good reason to criticize the film, as Ferrell’s portrayal of her was wildly at odds with the truth.—
Verb
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Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International (MGI), was seen scolding Fatima Bosch, a 25-year-old contestant from Mexico, ahead of the 74th Miss Universe competition being held in Bangkok later this month.—
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No doubt many grandmothers will want to scold us, but the truth is, soap isn't going to destroy your cast iron pans.—
Verb
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Fret about finding ways to score and the offense punishes you.—
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The state’s drought-free status is welcome news for water managers, but residents in some regions are still recovering from a series of punishing atmospheric river storms that brought intense rain and flooding.—
Cite this Entry
“Reprove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprove. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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