admonishment

American  

[ad-mon-ish-muhnt] / ædˈmɒn ɪʃ mənt /

noun

1. a variant of admonition.

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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.

Example Sentences

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

A new study led by the Northern California Innocence Project found that only 49% of the agencies examined were using admonishment forms that contained all of the legally required lineup instructions.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2024

I chose Woods and soon after earned admonishment from former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher - then the most seasoned voice on our BBC 5Live commentary team - for my naivety.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2024

He would probably dismiss her with some admonishment to study more and play less.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman