remonstrate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
remonstrates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
remonstrated,
past participle, past
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remonstrating
present participle
-
to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval.
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Obsolete. to show.
verb (used without object)
-
remonstrates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
remonstrated,
past participle, past
-
remonstrating
present participle
verb
-
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
-
are remonstratingprogressive
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is remonstratingprogressive
-
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
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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 court heard Mr Fellows recognised Amesbury and approached him to remonstrate about a bridge closure in the town.
From BBC ● Jan. 16, 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
Meanwhile, Klopp, who was sent off for angrily charging out of his technical area to remonstrate with the referee’s assistant, apologized for the coin-throwing.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 17, 2022
When her mother came to see her and remonstrate with her—‘Look at yourself! Have you no self-respect?”—Aurelia turned on her.
From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks
Jodar regularly remonstrates with his father, who still coaches him, and one of those occasions against Michelsen led to an accusation he had pushed a ball girl.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
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
But as Mr Green remonstrates, the City of Culture status technically runs for four years, not just one.
From Economist ● Sep. 25, 2017
In one scene, she remonstrates a baby for not using finger paints properly and instructs him on technique.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2013
Mrs. North remonstrates feebly, and Mary decides she needs some beef-tea after the excitement.
From Dramatic Technique by George Pierce Baker
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
The Kazakh remonstrated with the umpire after Zheng was awarded an ace for a serve when the Chinese player was 30-0 up and 4-3 down in the second set.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 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
Ten Hag remonstrated with officials over a throw-in decision late in the game at Old Trafford, which United won after Victor Lindelof’s 59th-minute goal.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 11, 2023
We remonstrated with him, but to no avail.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
He was allowed to have treatment at the changeover, leaving Zverev furious and angrily remonstrating with officials.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, in particular, was seen remonstrating with Everton’s supporters before captain Seamus Coleman and Lampard seemingly attempted to defuse the situation.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 12, 2022
Djokovic then had some massage treatment on his left thigh at the changeover and began to get agitated, remonstrating with his team.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 6, 2022
Konchesky was also dismissed for remonstrating with Foster over the sending-off.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2022
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
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
