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Showing results for "admonishment"
Synonyms

admonishment

American  
[ad-mon-ish-muhnt] / ædˈmɒn ɪʃ mənt /

noun

  1. a variant of admonition.


Etymology

Origin of admonishment

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Middle French amonestement, equivalent to admonish ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )


Explanation

When a coach pulls a player aside and sternly reminds him or her to stay focused during the game, that’s an admonishment — a firm but constructive rebuke. An admonishment is a strong warning or correction intended to improve behavior. The term comes from the Latin word admonere, meaning "to warn or advise." When a parent insists that a child finishes homework before playing video games, it's meant to encourage responsibility. Admonishments guide individuals away from mistakes and towards better actions, offering necessary feedback without being overly harsh.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing admonishment

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:

Giuffra’s admonishment to colleagues about speaking to reporters came after reports of his role in the Paul Weiss deal emerged publicly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

The judge’s admonishment of Peters was breathtaking as he rejected her lies and laid bare her craven motivations and manipulations.

From Slate ● Oct. 22, 2024

DeWine's admonishment came after members of his party have spent the last week spreading baseless accusations against immigrants in the small city.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2024

Writing to Simon Case, the UK's top civil servant, she asked for the material to be removed, with "suitable admonishment for those responsible".

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2024

I will repeat only one admonishment from a native of Maine, and I will not put a name to that person for fear of reprisal.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

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