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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counsel
Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
Deborah Del Prete Sullivan, legal counsel and director of the Office of the Chief Public Defender, wrote in her testimony that the bill would subject anyone present at a street takeover to having their operator’s license or privilege permanently revoked for a third violation.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2025
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Most healthcare providers counseling transgender adolescents focus on social transition, which requires no medical intervention.
—Daphne Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Noun
There are all kinds of difficulties even contacting counsel when people are detained.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
Deborah Del Prete Sullivan, legal counsel and director of the Office of the Chief Public Defender, wrote in her testimony that the bill would subject anyone present at a street takeover to having their operator’s license or privilege permanently revoked for a third violation.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, represent 43% of new counseling clients at Money Management International, or MMI, leading all other generations, the debt-counseling nonprofit reports.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Most healthcare providers counseling transgender adolescents focus on social transition, which requires no medical intervention.
—Daphne Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsel
Noun
-
But Duterte, his family, lawyers and friends resisted and prevented the former leader from being brought to a Gulfstream G550 executive jet, according to Torre.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Once in prison, Brown filed a series of pro se appeals and then obtained lawyers who filed a 440 motion to vacate the conviction.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
My advice is to take your time and make sure everything dries fully between coats.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2025
-
This cocktail is essentially a Breakfast Martini but with Irish whiskey instead of gin, and our advice there holds here too: Marmalade is a major agent of complexity here, so different brands will absolutely produce different results.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
It was settled a week after Catherine Wu, an adviser at the center of the boardroom tussle resigned after the feud between the elder Kwek and his son became public, resigned.—
Jonathan Burgos,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
-
But the courts move slowly and Trump has not shied away from criticizing judges, nor has his adviser, businessman Elon Musk, who has publicly called for some judges to face impeachment for rulings that have slowed or stopped Trump's efforts to remake the federal government.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
As for me and my harvest, Gogol popped by my two-plant garden for an in-person consult after the Fig Earth workshop.—
Tribune News Service,
The Mercury News,
3 Oct. 2024
-
Robby wants Samira to stop stalling on calling for a psych consult, but Samira sees the woman’s hand tremors and hears about her coordination issues and has a hunch this isn’t a psych case.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Kennedy then conferred with Trump about intervening.—
Susan Page,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Macron was expected to confer with his EU counterparts about the possibility of using France’s nuclear capability as a deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats.—
Raf Casert and Lorne Cook,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Residents want city planners to take notice and be a guiding hand for new investment in their community — especially since landmarks such as Puckett’s and Gary’s Barber Shop, which served the community for 59 years, will be or are already gone.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Dylan Scott covers health for Vox, guiding readers through the emerging opportunities and challenges in improving our health.—
Dylan Scott,
Vox,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In March, the FDA—advised by VRBPAC—finalizes which strains American vaccine makers will include.—
Richard Hughes IV,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Mar. 2025
-
In his seven years at the firm, Carr litigated appeals of FCC orders and advised clients on how to gain FCC approval.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Athletic’s estimate suggests United’s PSR loss in 2023-24 was around £43m.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
The Athletic,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents pilots at many U.S. airlines, praised the FAA for restricting the airspace around DCA and suggested more could still be done.—
Zach Wichter,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to counsel
Cite this Entry
“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsel. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share