reproach
Americanverb (used with object)
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reproaches,
present (3rd person singular)
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reproached,
past participle, past
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reproaching
present participle
noun
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reproaches
plural
-
blame or censure conveyed in disapproval.
a term of reproach.
- Synonyms:
- disapproval, condemnation, remonstrance, criticism, rebuke, reprehension
- Antonyms:
- praise
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an expression of upbraiding, censure, or reproof.
- Synonyms:
- disapproval, condemnation, remonstrance, criticism, rebuke, reprehension
- Antonyms:
- praise
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disgrace, discredit, or blame incurred.
to bring reproach on one's family.
- Antonyms:
- honor
-
a cause or occasion of disgrace or discredit.
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Also called Improperia. Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church. the Reproaches. a series of antiphons sung in church on Good Friday, consisting of words addressed by Christ to His people, reminding them of His mercies and of their ingratitude.
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an object of scorn or contempt.
idioms
verb
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to impute blame to (a person) for an action or fault; rebuke
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archaic to bring disgrace or shame upon
noun
-
the act of reproaching
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rebuke or censure; reproof
words of reproach
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disgrace or shame
to bring reproach upon one's family
-
something that causes or merits blame, rebuke, or disgrace
-
perfect; beyond criticism
Synonym Usage
Reproach, rebuke, scold, reprove imply calling one to account for something done or said. Reproach is censure (often about personal matters, obligations, and the like) given with an attitude of faultfinding and some intention of shaming: to reproach one for neglect. Rebuke suggests sharp or stern reproof given usually formally or officially and approaching reprimand in severity: He rebuked him strongly for laxness in his accounts. Scold suggests that censure is given at some length, harshly, and more or less abusively; it implies irritation, which may be with or without justification: to scold a boy for jaywalking. A word of related meaning, but suggesting a milder or more kindly censure, often intended to correct the fault in question, is reprove : to reprove one for inattention.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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reproachablenessnoun
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reproachernoun
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unreproachablenessnoun
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reproachableadjective
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unreproachableadjective
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unreproachedadjective
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unreproachingadjective
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reproachablyadverb
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reproachinglyadverb
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unreproachablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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reproachsimple
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reproachessimple
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have reproachedperfect
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has reproachedperfect
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am reproachingprogressive
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are reproachingprogressive
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is reproachingprogressive
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have been reproachingperfect progressive
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has been reproachingperfect progressive
Past
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reproachedsimple
-
had reproachedperfect
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was reproachingprogressive
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were reproachingprogressive
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had been reproachingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of reproach
First recorded in 1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English reproche, from Old French, derivative of reprochier “to reproach,” from unattested Vulgar Latin repropiāre “to bring back near,” equivalent to Latin re- “back, near; again” + Late Latin -propiāre (derivative of Latin prope “near”; see re-, approach); (verb) late Middle English reprochen, from Old French reprochier
Explanation
Reproach means to mildly criticize. If you show poor manners at your grandmother's dinner table, she will reproach you. The verb reproach means to express disapproval or criticism of; as a noun it means blame or criticism. If you are beyond reproach that means no one could find anything to criticize about you. Synonyms for reproach are the verbs admonish, reprove, rebuke, reprimand. As a noun, reproach can also be shame. If you are caught lying, it is a reproach that might bother you for a while.
Vocabulary lists containing reproach
Metamorphosis
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The Odyssey
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Grade 10, List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Messrs. Robey and Light understand that police officers aren’t above reproach and that racism in this country still exists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
If they want to project an image of being a force for good, supporting worthwhile causes, then they need their financial affairs to reflect that and seem above reproach.
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
Ocean Vuong’s magnificent and melancholy second novel, “The Emperor of Gladness,” is both ode and reproach.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2025
Simpson was led by the public's perception, or his interpretation of it, that enough ubiquity and money places a person beyond reproach.
From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2024
Over the years, Mariam had learned to harden herself against his scorn and reproach, his ridiculing and reprimanding.
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
His notebooks, newly republished in an English translation by Ryan Bloom, are full of similar passages in which Camus reproaches himself to get to work and stay true to his beliefs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
The tirade, an unusually direct and pointed outburst on an island where such reproaches are typically not tolerated, went viral shortly after publication.
From Reuters ● Jun. 13, 2022
Still, “Guy” ensures that, whenever Earle’s next meeting with Clark may come, Earle has done well by his old friend with this heartfelt tribute and there’ll be no need for reproaches.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 27, 2019
Asked about his unfinished reading, the protagonist says, “No sooner do I buy a new book than it reproaches me for leaving it unread.”
From Washington Post ● Aug. 11, 2016
The silent kitchen seemed to hum with the shock of the recent scene and with Ron and Hermione’s unspoken reproaches.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
When Vernice tries to persuade Annie to aim higher, she is reproached by her friend: “Stop acting like me and you knit with the same needles.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Welsh Labour MP Steve Witherden has apologised after being reproached for drinking milk from a carton in the House of Commons last week.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2024
I reproached him for telling people that the medical and scientific profession was lying to them while he, a proven fraud, was not.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 29, 2023
"Everyone reproached us for having a quantity of money tied up in a system where we could not decide anything," said a source close to Renault.
From Reuters ● Feb. 6, 2023
“Oh come now,” Bast reproached, his smile falling away.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
But the investigators reserved their sharpest criticism for Dr. Wang, reproaching him for “long-standing and egregious misconduct in data management and record keeping.”
From New York Times ● Oct. 14, 2023
Simeone could be seen inside the bus reproaching the Sociedad fans who continued to chant and insult the visitors before police intervention.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 19, 2022
It appeared clear to Elder that the presidential candidate was reproaching the journalist out for waffling on an important story.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2021
When, in the 1930s, some of the remaining Nordophiles began reproaching the Up Helly Aa committee for allowing guizers to choose fancy dress over Viking tunics, Charles Manson, the committee secretary, replied emphatically.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2015
"It is you! They said it was! Oh Tristran! How could you? Oh, how could you?" and he realized who the young lady reproaching him must be.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
