remonstrate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval.
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Obsolete. to show.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to argue in protest or objection
to remonstrate with the government
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archaic to show or point out
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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remonstrationnoun
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remonstratornoun
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remonstrativeadjective
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unremonstratedadjective
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unremonstratingadjective
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unremonstrativeadjective
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remonstratinglyadverb
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remonstrativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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remonstratesimple
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remonstratessimple
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have remonstratedperfect
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has remonstratedperfect
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am remonstratingprogressive
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are remonstratingprogressive
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is remonstratingprogressive
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have been remonstratingperfect progressive
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has been remonstratingperfect progressive
Past
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remonstratedsimple
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had remonstratedperfect
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was remonstratingprogressive
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were remonstratingprogressive
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had been remonstratingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of remonstrate
1590–1600; < Medieval Latin remōnstrātus (past participle of remōnstrāre to exhibit, demonstrate), equivalent to re- re- + mōnstrā ( re ) to show + -tus past participle suffix; see -ate 1
Explanation
Remonstrate means to call someone on something that's wrong. If your mother yells at you in public, you might call this getting chewed out. She might call it remonstrating. Either way, it's embarrassing. Remonstrate has its roots in a Latin verb meaning "to show," and it used to mean "to make plain." Which is why remonstrate is a word that puts the glow of respectability on the action of yelling at someone or telling them that they're wrong. The sense is that the person remonstrating is the victim — they're just making the injustice plain.
Vocabulary lists containing remonstrate
Frankenstein
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"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass
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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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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:
Despite its military prowess, Sparta lacked strategic depth; its king, Archidamus II, therefore urged his countrymen to remonstrate with the Athenians, to buy time while recruiting other distant powers to their side.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
The article’s sensational headline read, “Raving Private Ryan! Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson remonstrate with a red carpet staffer as they attend the 76th Cannes Film Festival premiere of Asteroid City.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2023
Wales led 22-3 at half-time with Italy coach Kieran Crowley attempting to remonstrate with the officials as they left the field.
From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2023
The match delegate countered that perhaps “a caution and reprimand would have been sufficient” because other managers remonstrate with officials “without such punishment,” the FA’s ruling noted.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 15, 2022
Better Joe pushed at the young man’s head; seemed to remonstrate; and Charles said something in their tongue.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Juan Quintero of Colombia’s Deportivo Pereira remonstrates with Rony of Brazil’s Palmeiras during a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal first-leg soccer match.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 24, 2023
Her trite defiance is exemplified when she remonstrates against a would-be teacher who would pollute young Ned’s mind with “fancy books.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2020
But as Mr Green remonstrates, the City of Culture status technically runs for four years, not just one.
From Economist ● Sep. 25, 2017
A frustrated Roman Weidenfeller remonstrates with referee Carlos Velasco Carballo before being given a yellow card.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 7, 2016
Such superficial pessimism awakens protest, and the dying man remonstrates in the words of the poem.
From Browning and the Dramatic Monologue by Curry, S. S. (Samuel Silas)
As I read, I found myself recalling a story I once heard of an aggrieved man who remonstrated with his mother about her open preference for his little brother when they were boys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
Thomas and playing partner Keegan Bradley remonstrated with officials after they were put on the clock for falling out of position.
From BBC ● May 16, 2026
His mother and neighbours remonstrated with the OPC, insisting Rasheed was not part of the group, but their pleas were ignored.
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026
After jurors left the room, the judge remonstrated with prosecutors over the questions.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 8, 2024
“And yet, Jans,” Father remonstrated gently, “medicine has prolonged many a life.”
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
He was allowed to have treatment at the changeover, leaving Zverev furious and angrily remonstrating with officials.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
He was allowed to have treatment at the changeover, leaving Zverev furious and angrily remonstrating with officials.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
Forest coach Steven Reid was shown a red card for remonstrating with Tierney after the full-time whistle.
From BBC ● Mar. 2, 2024
The final whistle yielded unsavoury scenes as several Mali players surrounded referee Mohamed Adel, remonstrating with the official, and Hamari Traore was shown a red card for taking his protests too far.
From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2024
In fact, during the strikes I was often in the position of remonstrating with some of my more wayward colleagues who did not want to abide by our agreement.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
