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Definition of admonish

admonish

/ædˈmɒn.ɪʃ/
ad · mon · ish
Adverb:admonitorily
•
Adjective:admonitory
•
Past Simple:admonished
•
Past Participle:admonished
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Present Participle:admonishing
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admonish Lexical Profile

admonish Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To warn or reprimand someone firmly but without harshness.

Example

"The librarian had to admonish the students several times for speaking too loudly in the reading room."

2

To advise or urge someone earnestly to do something or to remember a duty or obligation.

Example

"The physician admonished her patient to get plenty of rest and avoid strenuous exercise during recovery."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for admonish

• Nearby Words

admittance
admittedly
admix
admonish
admonisher
admonishingly
admonishment

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French amonester, from Vulgar Latin *admonestare, an alteration of Classical Latin admonere ('to remind, suggest, or warn'), formed from ad- ('to') and monere ('to warn or advise'). The ending was later reshaped in Middle English to match other verbs ending in -ish.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Admonish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/admonish
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