Word: admonish (verb)

Associations

"Admonish" means to warn or gently criticize someone because they did something wrong or might do something wrong. It is often used in situations where someone is being told to be careful or to improve their behavior without harsh punishment.

• Example 1: The teacher admonished the students for talking during the exam. (The teacher warned them to stop talking.)
• Example 2: The mother admonished her child for not cleaning up his toys. (She gently criticized him.)
• Example 3: The manager admonished the employee for missing the deadline. (He gave a warning about the mistake.) A well-known synonym is "scold," but "scold" is usually stronger and more angry, while "admonish" is softer and more like advice or warning.

Substitution

Other words you can use instead of "admonish":

• warn (more general, less about behavior)
• reprimand (stronger, more formal and serious)
• caution (more about advising to avoid danger)
• chide (similar but a bit old-fashioned and gentle) Changing the word changes how strong or polite the warning sounds.

Deconstruction

"Admonish" comes from Latin "admonere":

• "ad-" means "to" or "toward"
• "monere" means "to warn" or "to advise" So, "admonish" literally means "to warn or advise someone." This helps explain why it is about giving advice or warning, usually in a gentle way.

Inquiry

• When was the last time someone admonished you? How did it feel?
• Can you think of a situation where it is better to admonish rather than scold?
• How would you admonish a friend who is making a bad choice without hurting their feelings?