1
as in to admonish
to criticize (someone) usually gently so as to correct a fault
my piano teacher often reproves me for slouching while playing, observing that good posture helps one play better
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to censure
to express public or formal disapproval of
the principal reproved the hockey team for their display of poor sportsmanship on the ice and ordered that a letter of apology be sent to the other school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dislike
to hold an unfavorable opinion of
the older generation has always reproved the younger generation's taste in music
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Recent Examples of reprove
Gallant reportedly meant to reprove the officer for failing to do enough about settler violence.
—
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024
Regional and international groups and leaders rallied behind Caracas, reproving the sanctions as illegitimate.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2015
If the Pets fail to reprove the demonization of Trump and Morrissey — disregarding hateful partisan fashion—their diminished integrity will be one of the consequences.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024
The son of immigrants — a hard-drinking father from Scotland and a reproving mother from Germany — Baird and his siblings grew up poor in Brooklyn, N.Y.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
Both films reprove today’s lack of soul-searching — that’s our real existential crisis.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Oct. 2023
In the early 2000s, Latter-day Saints were learning via social media about controversial elements of their faith’s past — including details about polygamy provided by the scholars, like Quinn, who were reproved by the church.
—Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
Her question drew reproving looks and boos from the crowd.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
Until Elliott reproves that, none of those three assumptions should drive Dallas’ game plan.
—Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2019
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024
Regional and international groups and leaders rallied behind Caracas, reproving the sanctions as illegitimate.
—Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2015
If the Pets fail to reprove the demonization of Trump and Morrissey — disregarding hateful partisan fashion—their diminished integrity will be one of the consequences.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024
The son of immigrants — a hard-drinking father from Scotland and a reproving mother from Germany — Baird and his siblings grew up poor in Brooklyn, N.Y.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 July 2024
Both films reprove today’s lack of soul-searching — that’s our real existential crisis.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Oct. 2023
In the early 2000s, Latter-day Saints were learning via social media about controversial elements of their faith’s past — including details about polygamy provided by the scholars, like Quinn, who were reproved by the church.
—Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2023
Her question drew reproving looks and boos from the crowd.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
Until Elliott reproves that, none of those three assumptions should drive Dallas’ game plan.
—Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprove
Verb
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The back-to-back performances came after Ware’s effort was admonished by coach Erik Spoelstra at a Saturday practice.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 July 2025
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He was admonished once by the judge for nodding enthusiastically toward jurors during a successful stretch of cross-examination by one of his lawyers.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Maine state representative Laurel Libby had her speaking rights restored by fellow state lawmakers on Wednesday, five months after she was censured for a social media post that identified a trans athlete.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
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Since its inception, the state Supreme Court has the power to suspend, remove or involuntarily retire or censure judges based on the commission's recommendation.—
Michael R. Wickline,
Arkansas Online,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
As producers of The Fugitive and its Big Pharma bogeyman could tell you, a good conspiracy is made even better when it can be aimed at someone or some group already disliked.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
19 July 2025
-
But the share of people who dislike BOTH parties is only 17%.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
The responding officer later reprimanded the woman for entering the vehicle to help the dog.—
Sydney Sasser
July 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 July 2025
-
Some judges are known to reprimand attorneys who miss deadlines and even sanction them.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Huckabee, an evangelical Christian who is normally strongly supportive of Israel, harshly condemned the attack.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
19 July 2025
-
The Trump administration accused them of belonging to the Tren de Aragua street gang in a case condemned by rights groups.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
Verb
-
Many airlines have long relied on aging computer systems, and the aviation industry has been criticized for failing to modernize swiftly.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
22 July 2025
-
McKinney ruffled some feathers by publicly criticizing former Giants’ defensive coordinator Wink Martindale in his final season with the Giants.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Verb
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Whether this comes off as a joke or as an invitation for scolding (spoken or unspoken, loving or otherwise) depends entirely on the other Muslims in the room.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
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But there was a time Emily Deschanel, who played the meticulous forensic anthropologist through 12 seasons of Bones, got scolded for being just that — and the memory still makes the star emotional.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
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The 22-year-old Shelton was utterly dominant in his first two matches of the tournament, punishing opponents with blistering serves and thunderous ground strokes.—
Jacob Steinberg,
Baltimore Sun,
26 July 2025
-
The Boston Federal Reserve is already testing CBDC programs, and the examples of abuse are everywhere: China's social credit system, which punishes citizens for political dissent, and Canada freezing of truckers' bank accounts in 2022 for protesting vaccine mandates.—
Kevin Sabet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reprove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprove. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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