admonish
admonish
Pronunciation
Absolutely! Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "admonish" with a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ədˈmɒn.ɪʃ (British English) ædˈmɑn.ɪʃ (American English)
ad (əd or æd):
ə (unstressed schwa): a central vowel sound, like the "uh" in "but"
æ (short a): a short open front vowel sound, like the "a" in "cat" (American English only)
mon (mɒn or mɑn):
m (voiced bilabial stop): a consonant sound produced by closing your lips together
ɒ (short o): a short back rounded vowel sound, like the "o" in "cot" (British English only)
ɑ (long a): a long open back unrounded vowel sound, like the "a" in "father" (American English only)
ish (ɪʃ):
ɪ (short i): a short close front unrounded vowel sound, like the "i" in "bit"
ʃ (voiceless postalveolar fricative): a consonant sound produced by making a hissing sound with your tongue near the ridge behind your upper front teeth
Note:
The apostrophe (') indicates primary stress on the first syllable.
Word Form Variations
"Admonish" itself doesn't have variations based on singular or plural. It functions the same way regardless of whether you're referring to admonishing one person or multiple people.
However, there are related word forms derived from "admonish" that can change based on context:
Admonition (noun): This refers to the act of admonishing someone or the advice given during such an act. (e.g., "The teacher's admonition about staying focused helped improve classroom behaviour.")
Admonisher (noun): This is a less common term referring to someone who admonishes. (e.g., "The stern headmaster was known as a strict admonisher.")
Admonitory (adjective): This describes something that serves as a warning or serves to admonish. (e.g., "The admonitory sign warned of the cliff's danger.")
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Verb:
Definition:
To gently but firmly criticise or warn someone about their behaviour, often with the intention of correcting them.
To offer friendly advice or encouragement, urging someone to do something.
Synonyms:
Reprimand (more formal), caution, advise, warn (for #1), encourage, exhort (for #2)
Antonyms:
Praise, compliment, condone (for #1), discourage (for #2)
Noun (less common):
Definition:
An act of admonishing someone.
A piece of advice or a warning given in an admonishing way.
Synonyms:
Reprimand (more formal), caution, warning, exhortation (for advice)
Antonyms:
Compliment, praise (for #1), encouragement (for advice)
Adjective (less common):
Definition:
Serving as a warning or intended to admonish someone.
Synonyms:
Cautionary, advisory, warning
Antonyms:
Encouraging, complimentary
Examples of Use
Verb:
Book:
"The wise old wizard admonished the young prince for his recklessness, urging him to be more cautious on his quest." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)
Newspaper:
"The coach admonished his players for their lack of discipline during the game, demanding a better performance next time." (The New York Times)
Online Publication:
"Experts admonish social media users to be wary of online scams and to verify information before sharing it." (BBC News)
Television:
In a tense scene from the drama series, the detective admonishes the suspect, warning them that any further lies will only worsen their situation.
Public Discourse:
"During the town hall meeting, residents admonished the city council for neglecting the poor state of public transportation."
Noun (less common):
Book:
"The teacher's admonitions about respecting others finally sank in, and the students began to treat each other with more kindness." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird)
Adjective (less common):
Movie:
The film's trailer features an admonitory message about the dangers of climate change.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Admonish
While "admonish" is a powerful word, it's not as common in famous quotes as some synonyms. Here are ten quotes that capture the essence of admonishing someone, though not using the exact word itself:
"A friend is one who overlooks your mistakes and admires your qualities." - Dave Barry (highlights the act of gentle correction associated with admonishment)
"Criticism, like rain, should not be too heavy or too continuous." - Criss Jami (emphasises the measured nature of admonishment)
"Beware of but flatterers." - Aesop (warns against the opposite of admonishment, blind praise)
"Scoff not at the failures of others, lest you be overtaken by the same fate." - Scottish Proverb (implies the corrective aspect of admonishment)
"We are all inclined to judge one another harshly, whereas mercy is the only behaviour that ennobles us." - Anne Rice (suggests the alternative to harsh admonishment, which is merciful guidance)
"He that respects himself is never laughed at." - Pythagoras (highlights the self-improvement aspect of taking admonishment seriously)
"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a president and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country." - Franklin D. Roosevelt (emphasises the citizen's responsibility to hold leadership accountable, similar to admonishment)
"A gentle word, even when dealing with ruffians, is more powerful than a fierce shout." - Hesiod (underscores the gentle yet firm approach of admonishment)
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates (highlights the teachable spirit fostered by admonishment)
"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates (implies the importance of open-mindedness to correction, a core element of admonishment)
Etymology
The word "admonish" is like a family tree with Latin as the root. Here's the breakdown:
Great-great-grandparent: The Latin verb "monere" meant "to warn" or "to advise."
Great-grandparent: Another Latin word, "ad-" was added to "monere." This "ad-" is like saying "to" or "towards" in English. So, literally, it became "to warn towards" someone.
Grandparent: Vulgar Latin (a more everyday kind of Latin spoken by common people) most likely created the word "admonestare" from "admonere." This word probably meant "to remind someone" or "to bring something to their attention."
Parent: Old French borrowed "admonestare" and turned it into "amonester," which meant "to urge," "to encourage," or even "to warn."
Our word: In the 1300s, English borrowed "amonester" from Old French and changed it slightly to "admonish." Over time, the meaning narrowed down to focus on giving someone gentle but firm criticism or advice, often to correct their behaviour.
So, "admonish" started as a broad idea of reminding or warning someone, and over time became more specific to offering corrective guidance.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Admonish
Here are some phrases and idioms using "admonish":
Admonish someone to their face: This means to directly criticise or warn someone.
Admonish someone gently: This emphasises the mild and corrective nature of the admonishment.
Admonish someone in private: This refers to offering criticism discreetly, away from public scrutiny.
A slap on the wrist: This is an idiom that implies a very mild admonishment, like a gentle reminder rather than a harsh reprimand.
Read the riot act: This idiom suggests a much stronger and more forceful admonishment, often delivered angrily. (Note: While "riot act" originally referred to a specific legal measure in British history, it's now used figuratively.)
Posts Related to Admonish
Source Information
Definition of admonish from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
