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Definition of reprimandnext

reprimand

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reprimand contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reprimand are admonish, chide, rebuke, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

Where would admonish be a reasonable alternative to reprimand?

The synonyms admonish and reprimand are sometimes interchangeable, but admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When would rebuke be a good substitute for reprimand?

Although the words rebuke and reprimand have much in common, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

How do reproach and chide relate to one another, in the sense of reprimand?

Both reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

In what contexts can reprove take the place of reprimand?

The meanings of reprove and reprimand largely overlap; however, reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

How does the verb reprimand contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reprimand are admonish, chide, rebuke, reproach, and reprove. While all these words mean "to criticize adversely," reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke.

reprimanded by the ethics committee

Where would admonish be a reasonable alternative to reprimand?

The synonyms admonish and reprimand are sometimes interchangeable, but admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel.

admonished by my parents to control expenses

When would rebuke be a good substitute for reprimand?

Although the words rebuke and reprimand have much in common, rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof.

the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics

How do reproach and chide relate to one another, in the sense of reprimand?

Both reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

reproached him for tardiness
chided by their mother for untidiness

In what contexts can reprove take the place of reprimand?

The meanings of reprove and reprimand largely overlap; however, reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault.

gently reproved my table manners

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 reprimand
Noun
The officer involved later received a formal reprimand and was ordered to complete additional training, according to internal police documents. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026 Of those, one was sustained, and Givens was issued a reprimand. Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Last year, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded and admonished Givens, citing conduct that included allowing a staff member to impersonate her during a 2021 bond hearing and taking action in cases after she had been recused. Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026 Days later, the House voted to reprimand Garcia after a fellow Democrat brought a censure resolution to the floor. David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reprimand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprimand
Noun
  • In the days and weeks following the Hamas massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023, students and colleagues alike in his academic community posted fiery condemnations of and expressions of moral disgust toward … Israel.
    Jesse Brown, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Without it, moral disagreement can quickly descend into condemnation.
    Eranda Jayawickreme, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Security guard Pascal Duvier, most recently infamous for allegedly scolding 11-year-old Ada Law at a hotel in São Paulo, is clearing the air.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The drama erupted last weekend when Jorginho went on Instagram Stories to say that his stepdaughter and wife were scolded at the São Paulo hotel for getting too close to Roan.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The Adams County Health Department admonished the Aurora immigration detention center over a lack of access to staff and poor communication in a new report detailing the county’s investigation into allegations of widespread illness at the facility earlier this year.
    Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
  • At one point housewives were admonished not to shake their dust mops outdoors lest that contribute to smog.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The first seeks to remove him from his assignments on the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees, while the second seeks to censure him.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The first seeks to remove him from his assignments on the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees, while the second seeks to censure him.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Joanna Fabicon, who has lectured on contemporary children’s literature at UCLA, added that educators, librarians and publishers must all grapple with the allegations against Chávez and decide how to move forward.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • While viral videos often blame everything from breakouts to dullness on air conditioning alone, Jafari says the reality is less dramatic.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Jones blames that impasse for kicking the financial stability of TSA officers like a football.
    Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Moderate exercise helps, but high-intensity overtraining can raise cortisol further, worth knowing if punishing workouts are already part of a stressed routine.
    Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
  • On Wednesday morning, that tally stood at a hefty seven hundred and thirty-four, with cases ranging from the President’s immigration policies to his dismantling of disfavored agencies to his effort to punish law firms to his ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Two advisers to Qatar told me that Global Risk had also conducted background checks and written reports on people linked to campaigns criticizing Qatar; corporate-intelligence firms often provide such open-source research.
    David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • However, in a pair of letters to the editor published in the Journal of Pediatrics, doctors criticized the article as hyped.
    David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reprimand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprimand. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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