reprimand
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
Synonym Usage
Reprimand, upbraid, admonish, censure all mean to reprove, reproach, or criticize (someone) adversely for behavior deemed reprehensible. Reprimand implies a formal rebuke, as by a superior, person in authority, or an official or official body: reprimanded by the judge and warned of a possible charge of contempt of court. Upbraid suggests relatively severe criticism, but of a less formal sort: The minister upbraided the parishioners for their poor church attendance. Admonish refers to a more gentle warning or expression of disapproval, often including suggestions for improvement: gently admonished the children to make less noise; admonished the players about promptness at practice sessions. Censure involves harsh, vehement criticism, often from an authoritative source: censured in the media for her off-the-cuff remarks; voted to censure their fellow senator.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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reprimandernoun
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overreprimandverb (used with object)
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unreprimandedadjective
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unreprimandingadjective
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reprimandinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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reprimandsimple
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reprimandssimple
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have reprimandedperfect
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has reprimandedperfect
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am reprimandingprogressive
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are reprimandingprogressive
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is reprimandingprogressive
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have been reprimandingperfect progressive
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has been reprimandingperfect progressive
Past
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reprimandedsimple
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had reprimandedperfect
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was reprimandingprogressive
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were reprimandingprogressive
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had been reprimandingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of reprimand
First recorded in 1630–40; from French réprimande, Middle French reprimend, from Latin reprimenda “that is to be pressed back,” feminine gerund of reprimere “to press back, restrain,” from re- re- + prim(ere) “to press” ( see press 1)
Explanation
If you're reprimanded, someone in authority speaks to you in an angry way because you've done something wrong. Or you might reprimand your dog if he steals your hot dog. The House of Representatives has a couple of ways to punish naughty members. One way is to reprimand them by voting to express disapproval. In 2009, Representative Joe Wilson was reprimanded after his outburst of "You lie!" during President Obama's speech. In the halls of Congress, this is considered "unparliamentary language," but if you yell at your congressman, that's okay.
Vocabulary lists containing reprimand
I Am Malala
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"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
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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:
Mutua has so far escaped any reprimand, let alone criminal charges -- to the consternation of victims' families.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
Those materials reveal a legal culture that has become so familiar with the mechanics of Batson that lawyers are taught how to navigate around it and have developed a way to evade judicial reprimand.
From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2026
At the opening of the Senedd on Wednesday Irranca-Davies asked MSs to avoid language that has "the potential to inflame debate or to increase tensions", but did not initially reprimand him directly.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
According to Sato’s lawsuit, the chief initiated a complaint against her for insubordination, and she was disciplined with a reprimand.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
He would have to find a way to reprimand the Afterlife for sending a wandering soul so unexpectedly.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Local media have delved into his past - he had received written reprimands in El Paso, according to documents obtained by the Arizona Republic.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
And in several such cases, judges are handing out more than just reprimands.
From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026
When the bureau found discrepancies, it tended to settle for reprimands and improvement plans, rarely going so far as to revoke a dealer’s license.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026
“Cloth cannot keep out microscopic viruses,” one character reprimands another, who prefers a scarf to his regulation mask.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
As they are talking a woman across the aisle reprimands them; she’s been trying to take a nap, she says.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Bankruptcy stands as a way to rewrite your future, not be forever reprimanded for the mistakes of your past.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
Despite being formally reprimanded by the Florida House Rules and Ethics Committee — a rare disciplinary action — the protest was far from her last.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
In all but one of the cases, officers were reprimanded or ordered to undergo retraining because they had erred in actions leading up to the shootings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026
After surrendering his troops, Burgoyne was sent home, where he was reprimanded over the defeat and condemned for McCrea’s killing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025
I said it couldn’t, it was a matter of security, and I reprimanded him for his lax conduct.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Some aides have raised using nonmilitary means of reprimanding Iran, such as helping protesters coordinate action online or announcing new sanctions on the regime.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026
While the once-slumping Dodgers have raised their level of play the last two nights, the Padres have made mistakes even Little League coaches would be reprimanding.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2025
We saw an official angrily reprimanding staff about other colleagues who had not turned up to work during the emergency.
From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2025
Bowden-Lewis also is accused of reprimanding the legal counsel for no valid reason, in apparent retaliation for the counsel’s cooperation with the commission and disloyalty toward her, the notice said.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 16, 2024
Instead of reprimanding us, Mrs. Moss acted concerned.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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.
