reprovingly
Americanadverb
Explanation
When you do something reprovingly, you do it in a scolding sort of way. Ask your studious friend if she wants to stay up late watching movies and she'll reprovingly say, "We have a math test tomorrow." If your grandma glances reprovingly at you during dinner, you might want to check yourself: are your elbows on the table? Are you chewing with your mouth open? This adverb is perfect for action and speech that criticizes, rebukes, or disapproves. Bring your adorable puppy into a busy restaurant and some patrons will most likely exclaim over her — but others will probably frown at you reprovingly.
Vocabulary lists containing reprovingly
Peter Pan
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The Golden Compass
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The Hiding Place
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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.
Raoni wagged his finger reprovingly, a sign for half a dozen Kayapó warriors to push the intruders back to their seats.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 2, 2020
“It’s like a gargoyle with weird green eyes that pulls on my hair or nibbles my ear”—he jerked his head away and smiled reprovingly at the phantasm.
From The New Yorker ● Mar. 11, 2019
Parker Posey plays Madge, a sinister palace aide who wears only black and reprovingly corrects the princess’s faux pas like a Mediterranean resort version of Mrs. Danvers in the Hitchcock classic “Rebecca.”
From New York Times ● May 24, 2015
“Not a lot,” he said, then looked at me reprovingly, as if I had thought these cats priceless.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2012
“Let me see that, my dear,” she said reprovingly to Ron, sweeping over and snatching Harry’s cup from him.
From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling
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.
