admonished

[ad-mon-isht]

adjective

1. rebuked or reminded of one’s duty, especially in a mild manner or with good will.

   As she spoke, the employee looked down and kicked the dirt like an admonished child.

   Tears came not from the admonished four-year-old who had destroyed the elaborate sandcastle, but from my dad, who had built it.

2. cautioned or advised against something; warned.

   A previously admonished person entering the premises without the owner’s written authorization shall be deemed to be trespassing.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of admonish.

Other Word Forms

• unadmonished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of admonished¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; admonish ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; admonish ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

“Guests not dressed for the occasion will be asked to make adjustments before entry,” we are sternly admonished.

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The federal department has argued that it has discretion to withhold funding and admonished the district for taking the agency to court.

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After some staffers complained, Dokoupil was admonished by CBS News leadership on an editorial call that the Free Press posted online.

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“We’re under invasion from within,” the president admonished generals and admirals gathered in the auditorium.

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A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge was admonished after entering other judges’ chambers and going through their papers and computers, according to a state commission.

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Related Words

• advise 
• berate 
• censure 
• chide 
• enjoin 
• exhort 
• rebuke 
• reprimand 
• scold 
• upbraid 
• warn