reprehend

verb

ˌre-pri-ˈhend How to pronounce reprehend (audio)
Definition of reprehendnext
1
as in to denounce
to declare to be morally wrong or evil that denomination reprehends murder in any form, contending that the taking of life is never justified

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to criticize
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of without exception, book reviewers reprehended the novel's tired plot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reprehend differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reprehend are censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, and reprobate. While all these words mean "to find fault with openly," reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.

reprehends the self-centeredness of today's students

Where would censure be a reasonable alternative to reprehend?

The synonyms censure and reprehend are sometimes interchangeable, but censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and of reprimanding.

a Senator formally censured by his peers

When would condemn be a good substitute for reprehend?

While in some cases nearly identical to reprehend, condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment.

condemned the government's racial policies

When can criticize be used instead of reprehend?

While the synonyms criticize and reprehend are close in meaning, criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions.

criticized the police for using violence

How are the words denounce and condemn related as synonyms of reprehend?

Denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration.

a pastoral letter denouncing abortion

When is reprobate a more appropriate choice than reprehend?

The words reprobate and reprehend can be used in similar contexts, but reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction.

reprobated his son's unconventional lifestyle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprehend
  1. criticize
  2. condemn
  3. blame
  4. fault
Verb
  • Harry and Meghan have been criticized for making money out of projects that criticized the royal family, including through the multiyear, multimillion dollar Netflix deal that the Harry & Meghan documentary was part of.
    — Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
  • The document was quickly criticized for errors and citing studies that don’t exist, as first reported by NOTUS, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news site.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • Dem lawmaker condemns Trump admin after staff member ends up in handcuffs.
    — , FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the university’s decision to ban Vemuri from the ceremony.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
Definition of condemn
Verb
  • India blamed Pakistan for the attack, an accusation rejected by Islamabad.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
  • Man sentenced for threatening officials DENVER -- A man who blamed exposure to far-right extremist content for his online threats to kill Democratic election officials in Colorado and Arizona was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday.
    — Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
Definition of blame
Verb
  • In April, the group Artists for Chicago sent a letter to Johnson signed by more than 200 arts and culture workers further faulting Hedspeth’s leadership.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
  • Central sharpness is excellent at f/1.4, while the edges of the frame can’t be faulted either, which is incredible news for astrophotographers.
    — James Abbott, Space.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of fault
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

repossessions
reprehend
reprehended
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprehend. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on reprehend

Nglish: Translation of reprehend for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Is 'Data' Singular or Plural?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

More Words with Remarkable Origins
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All