expostulatory
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of expostulatory
First recorded in 1580–90; expostulate + -ory 1
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.
Returning overwhelmed with sophistries and "explanations" from his expostulatory interview, Peter decided he knew more about quartz leads than about business and the disgorging of gains, so he went over into Idaho to try again.
From Blazed Trail Stories and Stories of the Wild Life by White, Stewart Edward
Usually quiet and well-ordered, its customary stillness was broken by a confused, expostulatory murmur of voices, above which rose a strident, angry bellow, like that of a maddened wild beast.
From The Crevice by Grefé, Will
The hairs on the back of his expostulatory hand bristled with indignation, the diamonds on his fingers flashed with it.
From The White Wolf and Other Fireside Tales by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir
While Polly was speaking Maggie opened her eyes and mouth wider and wider and when the young lady read aloud from her tablets she could not suppress an expostulatory “oh!”
From Polly A New-Fashioned Girl by Meade, L. T.
The injured man, his friend, is represented as taking it all in a helpless dull expostulatory way.
From Epic and Romance Essays on Medieval Literature by Ker, W. P.
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.
