To admonish is to provide a serious, corrective warning that emphasizes moral or behavioral improvement.
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- Firmly warn or reprimand someone for their actions.
- Offer earnest advice to avoid a negative behavior.
- Used in formal contexts to show authoritative concern.
Overview
Admonish is a sophisticated verb that sits at the intersection of warning and reprimanding. Unlike a shout of anger, an admonishment typically carries a weight of moral authority or professional concern. It suggests that the speaker is correcting a mistake because they care about the outcome or the individual's character.
Usage Patterns
The word is almost exclusively used in formal or literary contexts. You will frequently see it paired with the preposition 'for' when describing a past action (e.g., 'He was admonished for his tardiness') or with an infinitive verb when advising someone on a future course of action (e.g., 'She admonished him to be more careful'). It is a transitive verb, meaning it requires an object—the person being warned.
Common Contexts
You will encounter this word in legal settings, academic environments, or literature. For instance, a judge might admonish a witness to tell the truth, or a mentor might admonish a student to prioritize their studies. It implies a 'talking to' that is serious and intended to produce better behavior.
Similar Words Comparison
While 'scold' implies a personal, often emotional reaction to bad behavior, 'admonish' is more objective and detached. 'Reprimand' is similar but often implies an official, punitive action, whereas 'admonish' can be softer, focusing more on the 'advice' aspect of the correction.
Beispiele
The coach admonished the players for missing practice.
everydayEl entrenador reprendió a los jugadores por faltar al entrenamiento.
The judge admonished the jury to ignore the hearsay.
formalEl juez amonestó al jurado para que ignorara los rumores.
She admonished me to drive safely in the storm.
informalElla me advirtió encarecidamente que condujera con cuidado en la tormenta.
The report admonishes policy makers to consider long-term effects.
academicEl informe advierte a los legisladores que consideren los efectos a largo plazo.
Synonyme
Gegenteile
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
gently admonished
amonestado suavemente
publicly admonished
amonestado públicamente
admonished for conduct
amonestado por conducta
Wird oft verwechselt mit
A reprimand is usually a formal punishment or disciplinary action. An admonition is a warning or piece of advice that may precede a punishment.
Grammatikmuster
How to Use It
Nutzungshinweise
Admonish is a high-register verb. It is most effective when you want to sound serious, professional, or morally concerned. Avoid using it in casual texts or slang-heavy environments.
Häufige Fehler
People often confuse it with 'admonishment' (the noun) when they need the verb. Also, ensure you use the correct preposition: we admonish someone *for* an action or *to* do something.
Tips
Use for professional or formal warnings
Reserve this word for situations where you are in a position of authority or giving serious advice. It adds a layer of gravity to your feedback.
Avoid using in casual social settings
Calling a friend 'admonished' might sound overly pretentious or dramatic. Use 'warned' or 'reminded' for daily life.
Historical and religious connotations
The word has deep roots in religious and moral texts, often implying a 'calling back' to the right path. This historical weight is why it sounds so serious today.
Wortherkunft
Derived from the Latin 'admonere', which combines 'ad-' (to) and 'monere' (to warn). It has been used in English since the 14th century.
Kultureller Kontext
In many Western cultures, an admonition is seen as a 'last warning' before formal consequences occur. It carries a sense of duty to correct someone's path.
Merkhilfe
Think of a 'monk' (ad-MON-ish) giving a serious, moral warning. It helps to associate the sound with the gravity of a formal lecture.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenNot exactly. Scolding is usually emotional and personal, whereas admonishing is more formal and authoritative, often focusing on the correction of a specific action.
It is generally too formal for casual chat. In everyday English, you would likely use words like 'warn,' 'tell off,' or 'caution' instead.
The noun form is 'admonition'. It refers to a firm warning or piece of advice.
No. It is possible to admonish someone gently out of concern. The focus is on the seriousness of the warning rather than the emotional state of the speaker.
Teste dich selbst
The teacher ___ the students to finish their projects before the deadline.
Admonish is the only word here that implies a formal, authoritative piece of advice.
Ergebnis: /1
Summary
To admonish is to provide a serious, corrective warning that emphasizes moral or behavioral improvement.
- Firmly warn or reprimand someone for their actions.
- Offer earnest advice to avoid a negative behavior.
- Used in formal contexts to show authoritative concern.
Use for professional or formal warnings
Reserve this word for situations where you are in a position of authority or giving serious advice. It adds a layer of gravity to your feedback.
Avoid using in casual social settings
Calling a friend 'admonished' might sound overly pretentious or dramatic. Use 'warned' or 'reminded' for daily life.
Historical and religious connotations
The word has deep roots in religious and moral texts, often implying a 'calling back' to the right path. This historical weight is why it sounds so serious today.
Beispiele
4 von 4The coach admonished the players for missing practice.
El entrenador reprendió a los jugadores por faltar al entrenamiento.
The judge admonished the jury to ignore the hearsay.
El juez amonestó al jurado para que ignorara los rumores.
She admonished me to drive safely in the storm.
Ella me advirtió encarecidamente que condujera con cuidado en la tormenta.
The report admonishes policy makers to consider long-term effects.
El informe advierte a los legisladores que consideren los efectos a largo plazo.
Schnelles Quiz
The supervisor _______ the employees for leaving the secure door unlocked.
Richtig!
Die richtige Antwort ist: admonished
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