Is admonish formal or informal?

It is formal, common in academic and writing.

How do I use admonish in a sentence?

Use it when you warn kindly, not punish severely.

What's the difference between admonish and scold?

It focuses on gentle warning; 'scold' is harsher.

Is admonish a common word in academic writing?

It is a common word in essays and advice columns.

← Dictionary

admonish

/ədˈmɒn.ɪʃ/

IELTSAcademic

verb

to tell someone firmly but kindly that they did wrong; to warn or advise.

The teacher admonished the student for being late.
She admonished him gently to be more careful.
They admonished the team for careless mistakes.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: admonish is milder than 'scold' or 'rebuke' and more caring than 'chide'. It often implies kindly intent, while 'lecture' suggests longer, stronger criticism.

In other languages

Spanish: admonitar / advertir
Japanese: 注意する、忠告する
Korean: 훈계하다
Vietnamese: khiển trách nhẹ nhàng
Chinese: 忠告；警告

Etymology

Not selected as the primary nuance lens.

Common phrases

admonish someone foradmonish about behaviouradmonish gentlyadmonish but listen

Synonyms

warn advise remind chide reprimand

Related words

chide lecture reprimand rebuke warn

Frequently asked questions

Is admonish formal or informal?: It is formal, common in academic and writing.
How do I use admonish in a sentence?: Use it when you warn kindly, not punish severely.
What's the difference between admonish and scold?: It focuses on gentle warning; 'scold' is harsher.
Is admonish a common word in academic writing?: It is a common word in essays and advice columns.