Dictionary

admonish en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ədˈmɒn.ɪʃ/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ædˈmɑn.ɪʃ/ (US)

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English a(d)monisshen (adapted through -ishen (“-ish”) from earlier amonesten), from Old French amonester (modern French admonester), from an unattested Late Latin or Vulgar Latin *admonestāre, from Latin admoneō (“to remind, warn”), from ad- + moneō (“to warn, advise”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To inform or notify of a fault; to rebuke in a serious tone; to tell off.
   • Better is a poore and a wise child, then an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ecclesiastes 4:13:
   • Well, that's because he daren't trust you. But in his heart he is not a loyal brother. We know that well. So we watch him and we wait for the time to admonish him. 1914 September – 1915 May, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear: A Sherlock Holmes Novel, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 27 February 1915, →OCLC:
   • […] But then things take a turn, the men starting to keel over as Walder seems to admonish them for leaving certain threads hanging. […] 2017 July 16, Brandon Nowalk, “Chickens and dragons come home to roost on Game Of Thrones (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:
   • And further, by these, my sonne, be admonished: of making many bookes there is no end, and much studie is a wearinesse of the flesh. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ecclesiastes 12:12:
2. (qualifier:with of or against, transitive) To advise against wrongdoing; to caution; to warn against danger or an offense.
   • “You needn’t stray off too far in doin’ it,” his partner admonished. “If that pack ever starts to jump you, them three cartridges’d be wuth no more’n three whoops in hell. Them animals is damn hungry, an’ once they start in, they’ll sure get you, Bill.” 1906 May–October, Jack London, chapter II, in White Fang, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., published October 1906, →OCLC, part 1 (The Wild):
3. (transitive) To instruct or direct.

Forms

Deriveds

admonishing · admonishable · foreadmonish · admonishment · unadmonished · preadmonish · admonishingly · admonisher

Relateds

admonitory · admonition · premonition · monitor

Synonyms

tick off · advise · scold · drag · pooh-pooh · tell off · deprecate · encourage · cannonade · excoriate · denounce · denunciate · prompt · find fault · fulminate · animadvert · warn · slam · get at · admonish · inform · upbraid · savage · berate · advocate · give somebody what-for · threap · blame · chew out · reprove · get up · lambaste · blast · counsel · tosh · condemn · chide · scorch · dress down · slate · admonish · tilt · bawl out · exhort · lay into · skewer · recommend · give somebody a piece of one's mind · dispraise · adjure · vituperate · read somebody the riot act · reprimand · vilify · rebuke · derogate · tip · slash · berisp · rip into · chastise · chide · reproach · light into · rubbish · caution · get down · tear into · castigate · censure · lecture · charge · inveigh · put someone on blast · suggest · eat someone alive · objurgate · rate · criticize · reprimand · urge · bash · lace into · keelhaul · reprehend · notify · lash

Translations (70)

de warnen (warn against danger or an offense) · uk застерегти́ (warn against danger or an offense) · uk нагадувати (To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify) · pt advertir (warn against danger or an offense) · gl amoestar (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · pt admoestar (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · eo admoni (To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify) · es amonestar (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · hu óva int (warn against danger or an offense) · kk жөн сілтеу (To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify) · fr réprimander (To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify) · it ammonire (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · grc παραινέω (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · ru предостере́чь (warn against danger or an offense) · mk укорува (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · la moneo (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · bg предупреждавам (warn against danger or an offense) · uk напоумити (To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify) · uk попереджати (warn against danger or an offense) · vi bảo ban (warn against danger or an offense) · ru предостерега́ть (warn against danger or an offense) · grc νουθετέω (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · hu megdorgál (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · tr ikaz etmek (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · ja 警告する (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · ru порица́ть (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · cs napomínat (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · it ammonire (warn against danger or an offense) · ca amonestar (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · hu figyelmeztet (warn against danger or an offense) · hu int (warn against danger or an offense) · uk наставляти (To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify) · uk дорікати (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · ar حَذَّرَ (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · tyz cạ cứ (warn against danger or an offense) · cs pokárat (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · cs napomenout (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · de warnen (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · mk прекорува (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · fi moittia (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · pt advertir (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · nb formane (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · ru укоря́ть (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · fr avertir (warn against danger or an offense) · uk робити зауваження (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · nb irettesette (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · pt prevenir (warn against danger or an offense) · eo admoni (warn against danger or an offense) · es reprender (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · ne गाली गर्नु (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · pt prevenir (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · bg съветвам (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · nl vermanen (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · tr kulağını bükmek (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · mk опоменува (warn against danger or an offense) · de ermahnen (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · nb advare (warn against danger or an offense) · bg поучавам (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · eo admoni (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · tl pagsabihan (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · cmn 告誡 /告诫 (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · hu figyelmeztet (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · uk застеріга́ти (warn against danger or an offense) · fi varoittaa (warn against danger or an offense) · ru наставля́ть (To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify) · oc admonestar (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · fi tiedottaa (To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify) · el νουθετώ (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · ja 注意する (warn or notify of a fault; exhort) · fr admonester (warn or notify of a fault; exhort)