1
as in lawyer
a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations
if you cannot afford counsel, one will be provided for you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in advice
an opinion suggesting a wise or proper course of action
I suggest you take the teacher's counsel
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in adviser
a person who gives advice especially professionally
the toy manufacturer hired a public relations counsel to do some damage control
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in consult
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue
she approved the move after a counsel with her advisers
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to consult
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem
concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to guide
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed
every year the admissions officer counsels thousands of students about the process of applying to college
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to advise
to give advice to
perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counsel
Meily Perez, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
Ron Javor, who was staff counsel and deputy director of HCD, said that Bates was a resourceful leader.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
The move follows arguments from Maduro’s defense team, led by attorney Barry Pollack, that restrictions on payments violated the Sixth Amendment right to counsel by preventing him from choosing his legal representation.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Noun
The policy should also require input from expert engineers and consultants to verify the scope and needs for all major projects, as well as careful reviews of all vendor contracts by qualified legal counsel prior to execution.
—Meily Perez, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
Ron Javor, who was staff counsel and deputy director of HCD, said that Bates was a resourceful leader.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
Blogoslawski’s personnel file showed a series of efforts to counsel her throughout 2024 and into 2025 by a former finance director, Jonathan Perugini.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
The move follows arguments from Maduro’s defense team, led by attorney Barry Pollack, that restrictions on payments violated the Sixth Amendment right to counsel by preventing him from choosing his legal representation.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsel
Noun
-
In a bid to get Damian to consider granting bail for Rivera, the former congressman’s lawyers submitted multiple letters from friends and former colleagues to both vouch for him and put their own finances at risk on his behalf.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
25 May 2026
-
The blocker is not merely the neighborhood crank with a CEQA lawyer.—
Tracy Hernandez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
-
When Stagg’s calculations lead him to conclude that an almighty storm is set to break on June 5, 1944 — the day originally earmarked for the Normandy landings — after a long period of balmy calm, potentially scuppering the entire vast project, his simple but urgent advice is to wait a day.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Millions upon millions of people are using generative AI as their ongoing advisor on mental health considerations (note that ChatGPT alone has over 900 million weekly active users, a notable proportion of which dip into mental health aspects, see my analysis at the link here).—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
Top White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett tried to paint a rosier picture in an interview with CBS on Sunday, saying prices will come down soon after the strait and oil refineries reopen.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.—
Kimberly Turner,
The Conversation,
22 May 2026
-
The next steps are psychological consults, a physical exam, uterine evaluation and blood work.—
Ann Marie Luft,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Other analysts argue that the tradition of the court has been to confer citizenship for individuals, regardless of their parents' immigration status.—
Andrew Rice The Center Square,
Arkansas Online,
24 May 2026
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Marketers can scale their efforts more affordably and offer more subtle outreach as stakeholders research options, work through roadblocks and confer with each other.—
Dee Blohm,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Customers are guided through products with a sommelier-style approach emphasizing education, personalization, and safe use.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
District Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh and County Counsel Thomas Geiger deserve credit for clearly noting in the official voter information guide that property owners are still paying taxes for the district’s prior bond measures.—
East Bay Times editorial,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
It's advised for those with respiratory or heart-related issues to limit outdoor activity this afternoon.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
-
Any pair of scissors with a blade over four inches is restricted, advises the TSA spokesperson.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
Verb
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The results track with other recent independent polls that suggested Democrats were coalescing around Becerra, a former California Attorney General, and Republicans around Hilton, a former senior advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron who moved to California in 2012.—
John Woolfolk,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
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Since the light from each of those took different paths to Earth, and thus different amounts of time, this suggests there have been variations in QSO1’s emissions—consistent with a black hole feeding on different amounts of material over time.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsel. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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