reprove
verb
transitive verb
D. W. Broganintransitive verb
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Reprove, rebuke, reprimand, admonish, reproach, and chide all mean to criticize. Reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault. Rebuke suggests a sharp or stern criticism (as in "In the interview, the candidate sternly rebuked the agendas of those running against her"). Reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke ("He was reprimanded before the ethics committee"). Admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel ("The assistant manager was admonished to control expenses"). Reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild scolding ("The teacher reproached the student for tardiness" and "The child was chided by his nana for untidiness"). Incidentally, the resemblance of reprove to prove is not coincidental—both words can be traced back to the Latin probare ("to test" or "to prove").
Synonyms
- admonish
- chide
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- tick off
Example Sentences
Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2019 In lengthy reports released Thursday, the ethics panel reproved Reps. Elise Viebeck, chicagotribune.com, 23 Mar. 2018 Jack’s shoulders are slumped forward, his arms crossed, while John’s maternal aunt Annie reproves him with an extended finger. Jason Farago, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2018 Word History
Middle English repreven, reproven, from Anglo-French reprover, from Late Latin reprobare to disapprove, condemn, from Latin re- + probare to test, approve — more at prove
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
reprove
verb
Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremainreproving
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- admonishing
- reprimanding
- scolding
- criticizing
- chiding
- blaming
- rebuking
- reproaching
- upbraiding
- mocking
- faulting
- lecturing
- getting after
- berating
- getting on
- censuring
- condemning
- ticking off
- castigating
- haranguing
- lashing
- attacking
- flaying
- disparaging
- minimizing
- crucifying
- belittling
- burning one's ears
- denouncing
- excoriating
- assailing
- ridiculing
- lambasting
- jawing
- panning
- knocking
- dressing down
- scoffing
- deprecating
- keelhauling
- deriding
- rating
- scorning
- slamming
- abusing
- scoring
- bad-mouthing
- chewing out
- blasting
- reprehending
- dissing
- railing (at or against)
- putting down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approving
- indorsing
- endorsing
- sanctioning
- praising
- applauding
- saluting
- lauding
- okaying
- hailing
- touting
- extolling
- OK'ing
Synonyms & Similar Words
- reprimanding
- censuring
- punishing
- scolding
- denouncing
- condemning
- rebuking
- criticizing
- reproaching
- admonishing
- upbraiding
- chastising
- objurgating
- berating
- bringing to account
- calling to account
- lecturing
- castigating
- disparaging
- belittling
- ragging
- flaying
- deprecating
- lambasting
- dressing down
- jawing
- cutting up
- keelhauling
- chewing out
- telling off
- bawling out
- depreciating
- gibbeting
- scoring
- rating
- railing (at or against)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- commending
- indorsing
- endorsing
- citing
- applauding
- approving
- praising
- honoring
- hailing
- acclaiming
- sanctioning
- lauding
- eulogizing
- blessing
Synonyms & Similar Words
- disliking
- criticizing
- rejecting
- denouncing
- deprecating
- discountenancing
- condemning
- tsk-tsking
- scolding
- disesteeming
- misliking
- disfavoring
- scorning
- chiding
- censuring
- reprobating
- rebuking
- looking down one's nose (on)
- tut-tutting (over or about)
- reproaching
- frowning (on or upon)
- disrelishing
- disapproving (of)
- reprehending
- tutting (over or about)
- pooh-poohing
- poohing
- discommending
- objecting (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approving
- favoring
- liking
- supporting
- endorsing
- indorsing
- sanctioning
- enjoying
- loving
- digging
- relishing
- adoring
- fancying
- delighting (in)
- grooving (on)
- reveling (in)
- revelling (in)