Admonish
/ədˈmɑːnɪʃ/
verbC1
Definition
To admonish someone is to tell them carefully and seriously that they have done something wrong or should be careful. It is often used when a person gives advice or a warning to help another avoid mistakes or problems. The tone can be kind but firm, not angry or harsh.
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See It in Action
To warn or advise someone seriously but kindly
- •The teacher admonished the students for being late to class.
- •Parents often admonish their children to study hard.
- •The coach admonished the players to focus during practice.
To speak to someone about their mistakes or bad behavior in a careful way
- •The manager admonished the employee for missing the deadline.
- •She was admonished for not following the safety rules.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "admonish" like "tell" or "say," but with a serious and careful warning or advice to improve behavior
- ✓Picture a teacher gently telling a student not to talk in class because it disturbs others
- ✓It’s the feeling when a parent calmly warns a child about being careful crossing the street to keep safe
- ✓Sounds like "add-MON-ish" → imagine adding a “mon” (short for monitor) who watches and warns you kindly
- ✓Think of stories where a wise character advises the hero to be careful or change their ways before trouble happens
- ✓NOT like "shout" (loud and angry), "admonish" is calm but serious
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (no action), "admonish" means actively giving advice or warning
- ✓NOT like "punish" (give a penalty), "admonish" is about warning or advising without punishment
Try Other Words
- •Rebuke: to speak angrily or sharply about someone's mistake (Use when the tone is stronger and more angry)
- •Caution: to advise someone to be careful (Use when the focus is on preventing danger or problems)
- •Scold: to speak angrily to someone for bad behavior (Use when the tone is more emotional and harsh)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "ad-" means "to" or "toward"
- •Root: "monish" comes from Latin "monere," meaning "to warn" or "advise"
- •Origin: From Latin "admonere," meaning to remind or warn someone
- •Historical use: Used in English since the 1400s to mean warning or advising someone about their behavior
- •Modern use: Often used in formal or polite contexts when someone is warned or advised about mistakes or behavior
Reflect & Connect
•How does the tone of admonishing differ from simply telling someone they made a mistake?
•Can admonishing be helpful even if the person does not like being told what to do?
Fill in the blanks
1.The teacher admonished the student ___ being late because it disturbed the class.
2.When the manager admonishes an employee, it usually means the employee ___ a mistake.
3.Unlike shouting, to admonish someone is to speak ___ but seriously.
4.Parents often admonish their children ___ to be careful when crossing the street.
5.If someone only gives a gentle reminder without seriousness, they might ___ but not fully admonish.
6.The coach admonished the team ___ focus during the important game.
7.When you admonish someone, you want them to ___ their behavior, not just feel bad.