reproach

[ ri-prohch ]

/ rɪˈproʊtʃ /

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See synonyms for: reproach / reproached / reproaching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame; censure.

to upbraid.

to be a cause of blame or discredit to.

noun

blame or censure conveyed in disapproval: a term of reproach.

an expression of upbraiding, censure, or reproof.

disgrace, discredit, or blame incurred: to bring reproach on one's family.

a cause or occasion of disgrace or discredit.

the Reproaches. Also called Improperia. Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church. a series of antiphons sung in church on Good Friday, consisting of words addressed by Christ to His people, reminding them of His mercies and of their ingratitude.

an object of scorn or contempt.

OTHER WORDS FOR reproach

1 chide, abuse, reprimand, reprehend, condemn, criticize.

3 shame.

4, 5 reprehension, rebuke, criticism, remonstrance, condemnation, disapproval.

6 dishonor, shame, disrepute, odium, obloquy, opprobrium, ignominy, infamy, scorn.

See synonyms for reproach on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR reproach

1, 4, 5 praise.

6 honor.

See antonyms for reproach on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Idioms about reproach

beyond / above reproach, not subject to blame or discredit; faultless: She has always been honest and beyond reproach in her business dealings.

Origin of reproach

First recorded in 1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English reproche, from Old French, derivative of reprochier “to reproach,” from unattested Vulgar Latin repropiāre “to bring back near,” equivalent to Latin re- “back, near; again” + Late Latin -propiāre (derivative of Latin prope “near”; see re-, approach); (verb) late Middle English reprochen, from Old French reprochier

synonym study for reproach

1. Reproach, rebuke, scold, reprove imply calling one to account for something done or said. Reproach is censure (often about personal matters, obligations, and the like) given with an attitude of faultfinding and some intention of shaming: to reproach one for neglect. Rebuke suggests sharp or stern reproof given usually formally or officially and approaching reprimand in severity: He rebuked him strongly for laxness in his accounts. Scold suggests that censure is given at some length, harshly, and more or less abusively; it implies irritation, which may be with or without justification: to scold a boy for jaywalking. A word of related meaning, but suggesting a milder or more kindly censure, often intended to correct the fault in question, is reprove : to reprove one for inattention.

historical usage of reproach

In English the noun reproach is a derivative of the verb. The Middle English verb reprochen, “to rebuke, reprove, censure,” comes from Middle French and Old French reprochier “to recall something unpleasant to someone, blame.” Reprochier comes from unattested Vulgar Latin repropiāre “to bring close to, get in someone’s face, upbraid, reproach.” Repropiāre is modeled on Late Latin appropiāre “to approach” (with no sense of blame or rebuke), itself modeled on the Late Latin verb propiāre “to draw near to, approach.” Propiāre is formed from the adverb and preposition prope “near, nearby, close.”
The phrase above reproach “not able to be blamed, faultless” first appeared in 1674; its variant beyond reproach is first recorded in 1702.

OTHER WORDS FROM reproach

re·proach·a·ble, adjectivere·proach·a·ble·ness, nounre·proach·a·bly, adverbre·proach·er, noun

re·proach·ing·ly, adverbun·re·proach·a·ble, adjectiveun·re·proach·a·ble·ness, nounun·re·proach·a·bly, adverbun·re·proached, adjectiveun·re·proach·ing, adjective

Words nearby reproach

reprisal, reprise, repristinate, reprivatize, repro, reproach, reproachful, reproachfully, reproachless, reprobance, reprobate

How to use reproach in a sentence

Masters’ tweets and messaging, particularly about public health, simply demanded a public reproach.
Thiel Crony Publicly Disses Best Man in Spat Over Vaccines|Noah Kirsch|November 5, 2021|The Daily Beast
Your bonafides to give independent advice in a report is always subject of concern, and one should be above reproach in those situations.
‘Less than credible’: Investigation of HRC prez dismissed as conflict of interest|Chris Johnson|August 18, 2021|Washington Blade
It’s enough to make you paranoid — or, at least, make you consider that no one, not even the people we choose to trust, is entirely above reproach.
I can’t trust my new co-worker, and I have a list of reasons. How do I tell management?|Karla Miller|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
To be clear—I do not believe powerful, accomplished women are above reproach, and I have criticized my share.
A Sexism Problem at The New York Times|Keli Goff|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

First of all, in his 25 years, by all accounts Lane Frost lived his life above reproach.
The Death of a Rodeo Cowboy|Peter Richmond|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I realize that I am in the public spotlight and my conduct needs to be above reproach,” he said.
At This School Shoplifting Is Worse Than Rape|Caitlin Dickson|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A man of any rank may, without any reproach, abstain totally from tasting such liquors.
What We Can Learn From Rioting in Sweden|Megan McArdle|May 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Sitting on the side of her bed, her gaze is downturned, replete with a combination of remorse, self-reproach, and despair.
GOP to Women: Obama’s Your Guilty Pleasure|Judith Grey|May 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
"It is good to pray here," she said, in a tone the mildness and sincerity of which made the reproach more cutting.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
The inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish, and with their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
For better is the iniquity of a man, than a woman doing a good turn, and a woman bringing shame and reproach.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The keen resentment had faded from his face, but an immense reproach was there—a heavy, helpless, appealing reproach.
Confidence|Henry James
All the criminals go about and take their pleasure, thus occasioning much reproach.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various

British Dictionary definitions for reproach

reproach

/ (rɪˈprəʊtʃ) /

verb (tr)

to impute blame to (a person) for an action or fault; rebuke

archaic to bring disgrace or shame upon

noun

the act of reproaching

rebuke or censure; reproofwords of reproach

disgrace or shameto bring reproach upon one's family

something that causes or merits blame, rebuke, or disgrace

above reproach or beyond reproach perfect; beyond criticism

Derived forms of reproach

reproachable, adjectivereproachableness, nounreproachably, adverbreproacher, noun

Word Origin for reproach

C15: from Old French reprochier, from Latin re- + prope near

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

reproach

OTHER WORDS FOR reproach

OPPOSITES FOR reproach

Idioms about reproach

Origin of reproach

synonym study for reproach

historical usage of reproach

OTHER WORDS FROM reproach

Words nearby reproach

Words related to reproach

How to use reproach in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reproach

Derived forms of reproach

Word Origin for reproach