expostulate

American  

[ik-spos-chuh-leyt] / ɪkˈspɒs tʃəˌleɪt /

verb (used without object)

expostulated, expostulating

1. to reason earnestly with someone against something that person intends to do or has done; remonstrate.

   His father expostulated with him about the evils of gambling.

   Synonyms:

   counsel, exhort, protest, argue, dispute

---

expostulate British  

/ ɪkˈspɒstjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to argue or reason (with), esp in order to dissuade from an action or intention

---

Other Word Forms

• expostulation
  noun
• expostulator
  noun
• expostulatory
  adjective
• unexpostulating
  adjective
• expostulatingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of expostulate

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin expostulātus “urgently demanded, required” (past participle of expostulāre ); see ex- ¹, postulate

Explanation

When you expostulate, you argue strongly against someone doing something. You might expostulate with your little brother, objecting to his plan to jump off the roof into a pile of leaves. Someone who expostulates has strong opinions about other people's plans or ideas and a desire to convince them to change their minds. You might expostulate about your town's new law banning dogs from coffee shops, arguing against it in a letter to the local newspaper. Expostulate comes from the Latin root word expostulare, meaning "to demand urgently." The English word still contains this urgency, with an added sense of persuasion and reasoned argument.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

expostulate expostulated expostulating

He often stops on his way into and out of the proceedings, which cameras can’t film, to expostulate and to cast various developments as victories.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 6, 2023

They have come out of their way to find a doctor—not for themselves but as a useful addendum to Sanditon’s delights, upon which Parker likes to expostulate, to the exclusion of every other theme:

From The New Yorker ● Mar. 5, 2017

Her fellow workers first expostulate and then copy her.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 10, 2013

Or ring their doorbell and expostulate in calm, well-reasoned tones.

From Time Magazine Archive

Why merely say something, when they can declare, assert, expostulate, announce, or asseverate it?

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

"I was born in a provincial town, in a family that had nothing to do with the world of journalists, politicians or bankers," he expostulated, clearly annoyed.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2022

Adam Smith, who expostulated the theory of the Invisible Hand in “The Wealth of Nations” in 1776, believed that most business was narrowly focused on reducing costs and improving quality.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 15, 2019

One theory, expostulated in this week’s edition of The Economist, suggests that he won’t.

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 11, 2015

"No chance with the Seekers' new single," expostulated John.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 24, 2012

"My dear Andy, it's constantly being done," Belfield expostulated.

From Second String by Hope, Anthony

He ran out of the house, down its long, curving driveway, and onto the sidewalk, still expostulating with the Almighty: “Lord, give me another chance…. Haven’t I brought happiness to anyone in this world?”

From The New Yorker ● Mar. 4, 2015

With Nixon vigorously expostulating and pointing his finger into the chest of the impassive Khrushchev, the contestants look like bickering clowns.

From New York Times ● Jun. 9, 2011

His chauffeur, volubly expostulating in Japanese, tried to save the situation.

From Time Magazine Archive

You must, however, allow me the privilege of a father and a philosopher in expostulating with you on this depression.

From The Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Volume I (of 2) by Marshall, Florence A. Thomas

The dog had tried to snatch the bread, the man had shouted and jerked it away, the animal had recoiled and given another expostulating yelp.

From Sea and Sardinia by Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)