reproof
Americannoun
-
the act of reproving, censuring, or rebuking.
- Synonyms:
- remonstrance, reproach, rebuke
-
an expression of censure or rebuke.
noun
Other Word Forms
- reproofless adjective
- self-reproof noun
Etymology
Origin of reproof
1300–50; Middle English reprof < Old French reprove, derivative of reprover to reprove
Explanation
A reproof is a negative comment, reprimand, or rebuke. Even the nicest kindergarten teacher in the world will give his students a reproof if they won't stop laughing and running around the classroom. An athlete's bad behavior on or off the field might result in a reproof by his coach. and a long-distance bus driver will offer at least a mild reproof if a passenger is continuously talking loudly into her cell phone. Kids with strict parents receive more reproofs than those who have fewer rules to follow. Reproof comes from the Late Latin reprobāre, which means "disapprove, reject, or condemn."
Vocabulary lists containing reproof
The Call of the Wild
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
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Grade 11, List 6
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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.
The opening line immediately signals the narrator’s mingled awe and reproof: “Because he had enjoyed almost every advantage since birth, one of the few privileges denied to Benjamin Rask was that of a heroic rise.”
From Washington Post • May 17, 2022
If Jim has taken your boyfriend’s reproof seriously, you could decide to let bygones be bygones, but if his appalling behavior resumes, the respectful thing to do is to let your friend know.
From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2022
William spoke of royal duties — “I know he would want us to get on with the job” — which some took as a veiled reproof of his absentee brother.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2021
McQueen’s separate reproof to his industry for being slow to change was prompted by a recent visit to a film set in which a friend of his was working.
From The Guardian • Jun. 20, 2020
She took it as a reproof, and held up a hand.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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.
