admonished

[ad-mon-isht] / ædˈmɒn ɪʃt /

VERB

warn, strongly criticize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advise berate censure chide enjoin exhort rebuke reprimand scold upbraid warn

STRONG

check counsel ding forewarn glue growl hoist notice rap reprove

WEAK

call down call on the carpet come down hard on draw the line give a going over give a piece of one's mind jack up rap on knuckles sit on slap on wrist speak to talk to tell a thing or two tell off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow compliment flatter laud permit praise

WEAK

applaud approve commend extol

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When I admonished my 7 year-old for complaining too much during a particularly wonderful excursion, she retorted, “Daddy, complaining is my passion!”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

“Guests not dressed for the occasion will be asked to make adjustments before entry,” we are sternly admonished.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

My mother had always admonished me to date nice Jewish girls.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2025

"Don't ever say what you said," he admonished reporters.

From Salon • May 28, 2025

Unlike her parents, and her other relatives, her grandmother had not admonished Ashima not to eat beef or wear skirts or cut off her hair or forget her family the moment she landed in Boston.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri